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Science · Years 3-5
How can I teach children to plan a fair comparison in science?
Identify the feature to change, the conditions to keep the same and what to measure. This paper-bridge planning sheet makes those decisions explicit before a teacher-approved investigation.
Download: Plan a fair comparison
A4 PDF · 2 pages · free · no sign-up
Print page 1 for the activity and keep page 2 for teaching notes and answers or suggested responses.
Use A4 paper at 100% or Actual size. Choose by the task and your class; the suggested range is a starting point, not a curriculum-alignment claim.
How to use this resource
- Discuss the two paper designs and predict a possible difference.
- Agree paper size, support gap, counter placement and a stopping rule.
- Plan a repeat trial and explain how the results would address the question.
Make it easier or add challenge
More support
Provide the measurement and two control choices, then discuss why each matters.
More challenge
Consider an unexpected result and explain which repeat or additional observation would help interpret it.
What to look for
Can the child distinguish the changed feature from the measurement? This design suits the comparison here; other scientific questions need different approaches.
Teacher answers and suggested responses
Change: the fold/design. Possible controls: paper type and size, support gap and height, counter type, placement and stopping rule.
Measure: number of counters held before the agreed stopping point. A prediction can be wrong; the explanation should connect the result to the tested designs.
A useful next step
Printing, access and sharing
Allow drawing, discussion, practical materials or usual communication tools where they support the learning aim. Use separate paper if a child needs more writing or drawing space.
Free to print and copy within your school, setting or family. Retain the website credit and share this resource page with other settings.