Working Scientifically · Summer Term

Planning Simple Investigations

Learning to plan simple comparative and fair tests to answer scientific questions.

About This Topic

Recording and Sharing Findings is the final stage of the scientific process. The Year 2 National Curriculum requires pupils to gather and record data to help in answering questions. This includes using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables. It is about turning raw observations into clear communication.

Students learn that a scientist's work isn't finished until they have shared it with others. They explore how different formats (like a tally chart versus a drawing) are better for different types of information. This topic particularly benefits from hands-on, student-centered approaches where children can present their findings to their peers and practice explaining the 'story' of their data.

Active Learning Ideas

Gallery Walk: Data Detectives

Display different ways of showing the same data (a photo, a tally chart, and a simple bar graph of 'favourite fruits'). Students walk around and use a 'magnifying glass' (hand gesture) to find one fact from each display.

⏱ 30 min·Individual

Generate mission

Inquiry Circle: The Minibeast Tally

After an outdoor hunt, groups use their rough notes to create a neat, shared tally chart. They then have to turn that tally into a simple block graph using sticky notes on a large piece of sugar paper.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Peer Teaching: Explain My Pattern

Pairs look at a graph of plant growth. One student must explain what the 'pattern' is (e.g., 'the line goes up, so the plant is getting taller') to their partner, who then asks one 'how' or 'why' question.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

A scientific drawing must be a pretty picture.

What to Teach Instead

Children often spend time drawing grass and clouds. By using a 'Labeling Challenge', we can teach them that a scientific drawing is for information, so it needs clear lines, labels, and only the important parts of the object.

Common Misconception

Charts and tables are just for maths.

What to Teach Instead

Students may not see the link between science and data. A simulation where they try to remember 10 different animal counts without writing them down helps them see that tables are 'memory tools' for scientists.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way for a Year 2 student to record data?

It depends on the data! For counting things (like birds in a garden), a tally chart is best. For showing how something looks (like a leaf), a labelled drawing is best. For comparing amounts, a simple block or bar graph is very clear.

Why do scientists use labels on their drawings?

Labels help other people understand exactly what they are looking at. A drawing of a plant might just look like a green blob, but with labels for 'stem', 'leaf', and 'root', it becomes a useful piece of scientific information.

How can active learning help students share their findings?

Active learning, like a Gallery Walk or peer-teaching session, gives students a real 'audience'. When they know they have to explain their chart to a friend, they are more likely to make it clear and accurate. This social aspect of sharing makes the data feel more important and helps them practice using scientific vocabulary in context.

What is a 'pattern' in scientific results?

A pattern is something that happens over and over again. For example, if every time we give a plant more water it grows taller, that's a pattern! Finding patterns helps scientists predict what might happen next time.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU