Science Can Be Revised · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Science Can Be Revised

Science · Scientific Inquiry · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. When an experiment gives a surprising result, that means the scientist did something wrong.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. What did people used to think about the Sun and Earth, before better evidence came in?

    • The Sun circles the Earth
    • The Earth circles the Sun
    • Neither one moves

  3. Why is it important to test an idea, even if an expert already said it's true?

    • Experts are never allowed to be wrong
    • Testing checks if the idea still matches the evidence
    • Testing is only needed for brand-new ideas

  4. A scientist runs an experiment and gets a result nobody expected. What should the scientist do next?

    • Look closely at the result and consider updating the idea
    • Ignore the result because it doesn't fit
    • Assume the experiment broke and never repeat it

  5. A class reads an old book with a scientific 'fact' that is now known to be false. What is the best explanation for this?

    • The old book must have been printed wrong
    • Science facts never change once written down
    • New evidence was found that changed the idea

  6. It's fine to accept an idea forever just because a famous scientist said it, without ever testing it again.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. A student says that a scientific idea changing over time means science can't be trusted. What is the better way to think about it?

    • It means old scientists lied
    • It means all science is guessing
    • Changing ideas to fit new evidence means science is working properly

  8. Zara says: 'Scientists were foolish for believing the Sun circled the Earth.' What is wrong with what Zara said?

    • Zara is completely right, they were careless
    • They used the best evidence available at the time, and updated it later
    • They never actually believed that
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Science Can Be Revised W1-mt_1GVAmcwAiO-s1

  1. False · A surprising result is a clue, not a mistake. It can lead to a better idea.
  2. The Sun circles the Earth · People used to think the Sun circled the Earth, since that is what it looks like from the ground.
  3. Testing checks if the idea still matches the evidence · Testing shows whether an idea holds up to evidence, no matter who said it.
  4. Look closely at the result and consider updating the idea · Unexpected results are valuable clues. Good scientists investigate them instead of ignoring them.
  5. New evidence was found that changed the idea · Scientific ideas change when new evidence arrives. That's normal, not a printing error.
  6. False · Even famous scientists can be wrong, or new evidence can appear later. Ideas need ongoing testing.
  7. Changing ideas to fit new evidence means science is working properly · Updating ideas with better evidence is a sign science is working as intended, not a flaw.
  8. They used the best evidence available at the time, and updated it later · Old ideas were reasonable given the evidence available then. Science improved once better evidence arrived.
Worksheet · LightMySky