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Everyday English · A classroom science lesson: planning a test, using simple tools, staying safe and talking about results

Science Class & Experiments: 18 Everyday English Words

Learn the words you hear in a science lesson: prediction, observe, fair test, goggles and result, plus what to say when you work with a lab partner.

Suggested Grades 3–518 everyday words10 light-review questions
Learning objectiveRecognise the everyday words of a classroom science activity, follow common instructions such as 'record your observations' and 'clean up your station', and tell the difference between a prediction and a result.

What to do

In science class, you do more than read. You do experiments: small tests that help you find something out. Before you start, your teacher may ask, "What is your prediction?" That means: what do you think will happen?

During the experiment, you observe, which means you watch carefully and notice details. You may measure with a ruler or a thermometer, and you record what you notice in a chart. A careful scientist tries to make it a fair test: change only one thing and keep everything else the same.

At the end, you look at the result, what really happened, and compare it with your prediction. A wrong prediction is not a mistake. It means you learned something new.

You will hear these words in science lessons from now through high school. Read each word, listen to it and read the example sentence. You do not need to memorise them all today.

Core everyday words

experiment

noun · ek-SPAIR-ih-ment

a test you do to find out something or check an idea

Example: Today's experiment is about which paper towel soaks up the most water.

prediction

noun · prih-DIK-shun

what you think will happen before you test it

Example: My prediction is that the ice will melt faster in the sun.

observe

verb · ub-ZURV

to watch carefully and notice details

Example: Observe the seeds every morning and write what you see.

observation

noun · ob-zur-VAY-shun

something you notice by watching, listening, touching or smelling

Example: One observation was that the water turned cloudy.

measure

verb · MEZH-er

to find the size, amount or length of something using a tool

Example: Measure the plant with a ruler every Friday.

ruler

noun · ROO-ler

a flat strip marked in centimetres for measuring length

Example: Line up the end of the ruler with the bottom of the stem.

thermometer

noun · ther-MOM-ih-ter

a tool that measures temperature

Example: The thermometer shows 22 degrees in the classroom.

magnifying glass

noun phrase · MAG-nih-fy-ing GLASS

a lens that makes small things look bigger

Example: Use the magnifying glass to look at the leaf's veins.

goggles

noun (plural) · GOG-ulz

safety glasses that protect your eyes

Example: Put on your goggles before you pour the vinegar.

result

noun · rih-ZULT

what happens at the end of a test

Example: The result surprised everyone: the small cup froze first.

record

verb · rih-KORD

to write down information so you do not forget it

Example: Record your measurements in the chart.

chart

noun · CHART

a table or drawing that shows information clearly

Example: We made a chart of the temperatures.

fair test

noun phrase · FAIR TEST

a test where you change only one thing and keep everything else the same

Example: For a fair test, use the same amount of water in each cup.

material

noun · muh-TEER-ee-ul

what something is made of, such as wood, metal or plastic

Example: Which material keeps the ice frozen the longest?

float

verb · FLOHT

to stay on top of water or another liquid

Example: The cork floats, but the coin sinks.

sink

verb · SINK

to go down under water or another liquid

Example: Predict which objects will sink.

clean up

phrasal verb · KLEEN UP

to put things away and make a place tidy

Example: Clean up your station before recess.

lab partner

noun phrase · LAB PART-ner

the classmate you work with during a science activity

Example: My lab partner held the ruler while I read it.

Recognise the word

Recognise the word

Choose the meaning or the word that fits.

Multiple choice

1. What is a prediction?

  1. What really happened at the end of a test
  2. What you think will happen before you test it
  3. A tool for measuring temperature
  4. The list of steps in an experiment
Multiple choice

2. Which tool would you use to measure how warm the water is?

  1. a ruler
  2. a magnifying glass
  3. a thermometer
  4. goggles
Multiple choice

3. Why do you wear goggles?

  1. To protect your eyes
  2. To see small things bigger
  3. To see in the dark
  4. To measure things
Multiple choice

4. What is a fair test?

  1. A test that everyone passes
  2. A test with no rules
  3. A test you do only once
  4. A test where you change only one thing and keep everything else the same
Multiple choice

5. Your teacher says, "Observe the ice cube." What should you do?

  1. Eat the ice cube
  2. Throw the ice cube away
  3. Watch it carefully and notice details
  4. Guess what it weighs

Use the word in a situation

Use the word in a situation

Think about what people really say and do in a science lesson.

Fill in the word

6. "Write down what you see in the chart. Don't forget to ___ your measurements."

  1. record
  2. float
  3. sink
  4. clean up
Fill in the word

7. "The cork stayed on top of the water. It ___."

  1. sank
  2. floated
  3. measured
  4. observed
Fill in the word

8. "I thought the big cup would freeze first, but the small cup froze first. The ___ surprised me."

  1. prediction
  2. goggles
  3. result
  4. ruler
Fill in the word

9. "The bell is about to ring. Please ___ your station and put the tools back."

  1. observe
  2. predict
  3. measure
  4. clean up
Fill in the word

10. "Which ___ keeps ice frozen longest: wool, foil or plastic?"

  1. material
  2. thermometer
  3. partner
  4. result

Quick-check answers

  1. 1. What you think will happen before you test it
    A prediction comes before the test. What really happened is the result.
  2. 2. a thermometer
    A thermometer measures temperature. A ruler measures length, a magnifying glass makes things look bigger and goggles protect your eyes.
  3. 3. To protect your eyes
    Goggles are safety glasses. A magnifying glass, not goggles, makes small things look bigger.
  4. 4. A test where you change only one thing and keep everything else the same
    In science, 'fair' means only one thing changes, so you know what caused the result.
  5. 5. Watch it carefully and notice details
    To observe is to watch carefully and notice details.
  6. 6. record
    To record is to write information down so you do not forget it.
  7. 7. floated
    Something that stays on top of the water floats. Sank means it went to the bottom.
  8. 8. result
    What really happened at the end is the result. The prediction was the big cup.
  9. 9. clean up
    To clean up is to put things away and make the place tidy.
  10. 10. material
    Wool, foil and plastic are materials: what things are made of.

Keep building everyday knowledge

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