English National Curriculum - Science

5. Making a cake: fair testing, controls and variables

Mission Objectives

Identify an independent variable to investigate

Understand what a fair test is and which variables need to be controlled in an experiment

Explain how to carry out a fair test, including the importance of a control test

Enquiry Skill - Setting up tests

Carefully following a method and using equipment accurately to carry out a scientific enquiry. The method may be designed by teachers or children themselves.

Enquiry Approach - Comparative / fair testing

Conducting a test that controls all but one variable to answer a scientific question.

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Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

reaction

a chemical change where substances turn into new ones

variable

something that is changed

control experiment

an experiment that is used to compare with other experiments where there are variables

measurement

the exact quality of something

fair test

where one variable is changed and all other elements are kept the same

Alpha Resilience and Capability (ARC)

This lesson has been written by

Heather Bingham

Heather qualified with a first-class honours degree in climate science from the University of East Anglia. Since, she has joined Developing Experts as a writer and presenter, specialising in earth and environmental sciences.

She is also an internationally published science author, having written a series of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) digital textbooks aimed at improving learners’ understanding of English whilst igniting an interest in science.

Sarah Mintey MBE

Sarah is a former headteacher and charity CEO who founded Developing Experts in October 2015 with the goal to create a fit-for-purpose curriculum for schools. The company has created a science curriculum for children ages 4-16 which is delivered through sequenced lessons mapped against the National Curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics. Developing Expert's innovative approach to learning has already been road-tested and voted 'best EdTech product in Europe', winning Tech Nation’s Rising Stars earlier in 2019 and a place on Google for Startups Immersion program 2020. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022. In October 2022 Developing Experts joined Tech Nation's Upscale 8.0 programme.

Sarah is delighted to be working with over 6500 UK schools and clients such as the Royal Horticulture Society, Network Rail, Rolls Royce, BEIS, National Nuclear Labs, Anglian Water and the Ministry of Defence.

Sarah was awarded an MBE for her services to tech and education in 2020.

Katie Barrie

Katie is the Chief Operating Officer at DE, which means she oversees HR, finance and our business model. After studying Drama at Exeter University, Katie spent three years as a primary teacher, before relocating to Norfolk and joining Developing Experts.

In her spare time, Katie likes to sing with Norwich Harmony barbershop chorus and has recently formed a quartet. Katie loves cooking and spending time with her husband, Bryan and dog, Bertie. She has an endearing laugh, which has to be heard to be believed. Many of us see Katie as the office 'Mum', she gives great hugs and keeps our spirits up.

Contact: [email protected]

Clare Faulkner

Clare is an experienced primary school teacher, having worked across both Key Stage 1 and Early Years. Before joining Developing Experts, Clare worked as a Quality Assurance Inspector for a childcare agency, following OFSTED's inspection criteria. Clare is passionate about education and ensuring children's learning is exciting and fun!

In her spare time, Clare is also a mother of two very active children and lots of animals! She enjoys a variety of sports and loves the outdoors!

Emma Wilding

Emma has spent the past 12 years teaching in primary schools, where she has led history and played a key role in shaping curriculum development across her academy trust. With a passion for designing lessons that are lively, meaningful, and rooted in real-life context, she is dedicated to making learning something children remember and enjoy.

Her curriculum leadership has supported schools through successful Ofsted inspections, but her greatest motivation comes from helping pupils develop a love of learning and supporting them to make connections between the past, present, and the wider world.

In her spare time, Emma loves travelling the world and exploring new places -there is always another castle to discover!

Required Resources

Resources: Butter, caster sugar, self-raising flour, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, a mixing bowl, a whisk, a wooden spoon, a measuring jug, weighing scales, an oven and a 20cm cake tin (variables could also include baking powder, water and a selection of different flours, e.g. plain or gluten-free).

Support Handout (1): A scaffolded investigation sheet which has space for the children to write their question, prediction, ingredient and equipment list, along with activities to support creating a method and the variables they will change and control. A space for the children to draw what they think their cake will look like is also included, along with a recipe for a control cake.

Core Handout (2): An investigation sheet which has space for the children to write their question, prediction, ingredient and equipment list and their method, along with questions to support writing the variables they will change and control. A space for the children to draw what they think their cake will look like is also included, along with a recipe for a control cake.

Stretch Handout (3): An investigation sheet which has space for the children to write their question, prediction, ingredient and equipment list, method, and how they will make the experiment a fair test. A space for the children to draw what they think their cake will look like is also included, along with a recipe for a control cake.

Challenge Handout (4): An extra sheet with a space for the children to explain how they will ensure they're conducting a fair test, including why a control test is important.