Grade 6 · Science · Lesson 2

Plan Fair Tests with Variables and Controls

A scientific question is only useful if you can test it fairly. A fair test is an experiment where the only thing that changes between trials is the one factor you are studying. Every other condition must be held the same so you can be confident that any difference in your result was caused by the change you made — not by something else.

What this lesson teaches

1Identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables in an experiment
2Explain why a fair test changes only one variable at a time
3Design a simple experiment with a clear control group
4Predict how poor controls can make results unreliable

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