Correlation vs Causation · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Correlation vs Causation

Science · Scientific Inquiry · ages 8-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Ice cream sales go up at the same time as sunburns. What does that show?

    • Ice cream causes sunburn
    • They are correlated
    • Sunburn causes ice cream sales

  2. Two things that happen at the same time are called what?

    • A correlation
    • A causation
    • An explanation

  3. If two things happen together, one must have caused the other.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A town sells more umbrellas and more raincoats on the same days. What is the most likely reason?

    • It rains a lot on those days
    • Umbrellas cause raincoats to sell
    • Raincoats cause umbrellas to sell

  5. A coach notices that players who stretch before practice score more goals. What should she ask before saying stretching causes more goals?

    • Is stretching fun to do?
    • How many players watched the goals?
    • Could something else, like extra practice, explain both?

  6. Why can't we be sure breakfast causes good grades just because they happen together?

    • Because grades never change
    • Because another reason could cause both
    • Because breakfast has nothing to do with school

  7. A scientist finds that towns with more fire trucks also have more fires. Does this mean fire trucks cause fires?

    • No, bigger towns have more of both fires and fire trucks
    • No, fires cause fewer fire trucks
    • Yes, fire trucks start fires

  8. A student says: 'Every time I wear my lucky socks, my team wins. So my socks cause the wins.' What is wrong with this idea?

    • The student is lying
    • Socks always cause winning
    • The socks and wins might just happen together, not cause each other
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Answer key

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

Correlation vs Causation W1-mt_X0Tr8IYaEd-s1

  1. They are correlated · Both go up because of hot summer weather. That's a correlation, not one causing the other.
  2. A correlation · When two things happen together, that's a correlation. It doesn't yet tell us if one caused the other.
  3. False · Two things can happen together without either one causing the other.
  4. It rains a lot on those days · Rainy days make people buy both umbrellas and raincoats. Rain is the real cause behind both.
  5. Could something else, like extra practice, explain both? · Stretching and goals happen together, but a hidden reason like extra practice could be behind both. She needs to ask that before claiming stretching is the cause.
  6. Because another reason could cause both · There could be a hidden reason, like more sleep, that leads to both breakfast and good grades.
  7. No, bigger towns have more of both fires and fire trucks · Bigger towns have more of both fires and fire trucks. Town size explains both, not fire trucks causing fires.
  8. The socks and wins might just happen together, not cause each other · The wins are probably from the team's skill and effort, not the socks. This is a common correlation mistake.
Worksheet · LightMySky