20 Questions to Ask During Science Experiments (Instead of Giving the Answer)

When a child asks, “Why did that happen?”, the quickest response is to tell them. The better one is to ask a question back. These prompts keep thinking in students’ hands.

Before the experiment

1. What do you think will happen? Why?
2. What are we trying to find out?
3. What will we change? What will we keep the same?
4. How will we measure it?
5. What could go wrong, or make our test unfair?

During the experiment

6. What do you notice?
7. Can you describe it with numbers?
8. Is that what you expected?
9. What happens if you try it again?
10. What’s different between these two?

After the experiment

11. What does the data tell us?
12. How do you know?
13. What’s your claim, and what’s your evidence?
14. Why do you think that happened?
15. Did anything surprise you?
16. What would you change next time?
17. What new question does this raise?

When things go wrong

18. What might explain this unexpected result?
19. How could we check?

To go deeper

20. Where else do you see this happening in everyday life?

Tips for using questions

• Wait. Count to five before you say anything. Silence gives students time to think.
• Ask one at a time, and avoid a barrage.
• Use “what” and “how” more than “why” for younger students. “What do you notice?” is easier to answer than “Why?”
• Accept all ideas at first, then test them.
• Say “I don’t know, how could we find out?” It models real science.
• Ask the quiet students by letting them talk to a partner first.

Pair it with a routine

These prompts fit neatly into a predict, observe, explain routine. See why predictions matter. To structure the final answer, use claim, evidence, reasoning.

Try it

Pick a lesson, such as Why do scientists repeat their tests?, and keep a tally of how many times you answer versus ask. Sign up for three lessons free.