DevelopingTestable Research Questions Scientific Method Skills

This student-friendly guide teaches how to write clear, testable science questions that can lead to hands-on investigations. It introduces the structure of a good question using independent and dependent variables, and shows students how to avoid vague or opinion-based prompts. Students analyze examples, find mistakes, and write their own testable questions to build confidence and understanding.

Included in the resource are complete objective descriptions for MYP Criterion, ATL, UDL, NGSS and standard objectives.

Resource Highlights:

Clear instructions on how to:

Start a question with “How” or “What”
Include something you can change (independent variable)
Include something you can measure (dependent variable)
Avoid yes/no, opinion-based, or vague questions
Example questions included:

Four strong, testable questions
Two non-examples that are close but flawed
Practice worksheet:

Part 1: Identify and explain problems in flawed questions
Part 2: Write two new testable questions based on a prompt
Part 3: Use a checklist to review and revise your work
This resource supports scientific thinking and experimental design for middle school students. It can be used for classwork, homework, or as a pre-lab activity.