Understanding Independent Variables
A Grade 3 science worksheet to introduce and practice identifying independent variables in simple experiments.
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Understanding Independent Variables
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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions to identify the independent variable in different scenarios.
In a science experiment, the independent variable is the one thing that you change on purpose. It's what you are testing to see if it makes a difference. Think of it as the 'cause' in a cause-and-effect relationship.
1. The independent variable is the one thing you on purpose in an experiment.
2. We change the independent variable to see if it makes a .
3. The independent variable is like the in a cause-and-effect relationship.
1. A student wants to see if different types of soil affect how tall a plant grows. What is the independent variable?
The height of the plant
The amount of water
The type of soil
The sunlight
2. A scientist wants to know if eating breakfast makes students more focused in class. What is the independent variable?
How focused students are
Eating breakfast
The time of day
The teachers
1. Imagine you are testing if playing music helps plants grow faster. What would you change on purpose in this experiment?
2. You want to find out if different amounts of fertilizer make a tomato plant produce more tomatoes. What is the independent variable?
1. The independent variable is what you measure in an experiment.
True
False
2. You should only change one independent variable at a time in an experiment.
True
False