lesson
What can we find out?
Read with an adult. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.
1 · Learn
A scientist looks closely and asks questions. You can do that too! Say what you can see before you guess why it happened.
A question such as 'Which leaf is longer?' can be answered by comparing leaves. 'Which leaf is nicest?' asks what someone likes. People may like different leaves.
2 · Worked example
I see holes in a fallen leaf. That is my observation. I wonder whether an animal made them. I do not yet know the answer.
3 · Your turn
Which is an observation: 'The leaf has three holes' or 'A caterpillar must have eaten it'?
Check your answer
'The leaf has three holes' is an observation. We would need more evidence to say what made the holes.
4 · Apply your learning
Look at two adult-checked fallen leaves. Draw what you see and ask one question about them.
Adult guidance and safety
Read aloud if needed. Do not handle unknown plants or fungi. Wash hands after outdoor observations. Scientific enquiry continues through every unit.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
Not saved to your account. Download your drawing as PNG and your typed notes as TXT before leaving or refreshing. They are separate files. Do not enter private information.
Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
Replace the notes on this page with the opened file? Download the current notes first if you want to keep them.
Typed notes are not submitted answers.
My observation notebook
With an adult, look at a safe real example or a checked photograph. Name the example and say which you used. Record what you actually notice. Do not taste plants or materials, approach unknown animals or invent missing observations.
Tell your adult what you notice. They can help you write it. A prediction is what you think might happen; an observation is what you actually see, hear or feel safely.
Keep your notebook: use Download notebook before leaving. Nothing is sent to the website or saved to your account. Reopen the downloaded notebook here to add another day's record. Do not include names, addresses or other private information.
Your records on this page
No observations recorded yet. Look first, then add one.
Reopening adds records; it does not replace your current records. Up to 50 records per notebook. Keep your downloads somewhere private. Editing this notebook does not submit work or complete a lesson.
Practice this lesson
Lesson resources
Browse the available practice activities and worksheets for this lesson.
Interactive activity
Year 2 Science learning routine
Practice activity. It does not change your saved quiz score.
Your progress