Grade 3 Scientific Method Worksheets 2024 - Free Printable

Let's solve the Scientific Method Vocabulary matching exercise step by step.

We are given a list of vocabulary words:

- hypothesis
- question
- purpose
- prediction
- research
- material
- result/conclusion
- experiment
- data

And we have definitions to match them with.

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Step 1: Understand each definition

Let’s go through each definition and match it to the correct term.

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1. "A possible answer to a question that can be tested to see if it is correct."

→ This is a hypothesis.
A hypothesis is an educated guess based on prior knowledge, which can be tested.

✔ Match: hypothesis

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2. "The problem you want to solve in an experiment"

→ This is the question.
You start with a question you want to investigate.

✔ Match: question

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3. "The reason for the experiment"

→ This is the purpose.
The purpose explains why you are doing the experiment.

✔ Match: purpose

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4. "The facts you find in reference sources that support your data or experiment"

→ This refers to research.
Research involves gathering background information from reliable sources.

✔ Match: research

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5. "The item needed to complete the experiment"

→ These are the materials used in the experiment.

✔ Match: material

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6. "The results of the experiment in a chart, graph, or other visual form"

→ This describes data.
Data is the information collected during the experiment, often displayed visually.

✔ Match: data

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7. "The explanation of whether the experiment worked or not"

→ This is the result/conclusion.
After analyzing the data, you draw a conclusion about whether the hypothesis was supported.

✔ Match: result/conclusion

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8. "A test done to see if a hypothesis is correct or not."

→ This is the experiment itself.
An experiment is designed to test a hypothesis.

✔ Match: experiment

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9. "A forecast of future event"

→ This is a prediction.
A prediction is what you expect to happen based on your hypothesis.

✔ Match: prediction

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10. "Anything learned from an experiment using the 5 senses"

→ This is data again.
Observations made with the five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) are part of the data collected.

✔ Match: data

> Note: "data" appears twice — once as visual results and once as sensory observations. Both are valid uses of the word *data*.

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11. "Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome of an experiment"

→ This refers to research or possibly hypothesis, but more precisely, this is part of forming a hypothesis or conclusion.

But looking closely: The phrase says "using prior knowledge to explain the outcome" — this is typically part of the conclusion, where you use prior knowledge to interpret results.

However, the best fit here is actually research, because research involves using prior knowledge to inform your understanding.

Wait — let's reconsider.

Actually, research is the process of gathering prior knowledge before the experiment.

But when explaining the outcome using prior knowledge, that’s part of the conclusion.

So this one might be result/conclusion.

Let’s re-evaluate:

> "Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome of an experiment"

This is describing how you interpret the results — so it's part of the conclusion.

But result/conclusion is already used for #7.

Looking back at the list:

We have only one slot per term.

So let's double-check all matches carefully.

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Let’s list the definitions and assign:

| Definition | Matching Term |
|----------|---------------|
| A possible answer to a question that can be tested... | hypothesis |
| The problem you want to solve... | question |
| The reason for the experiment | purpose |
| The facts you find in reference sources... | research |
| The item needed to complete the experiment | material |
| The results of the experiment in a chart, graph... | data |
| The explanation of whether the experiment worked or not | result/conclusion |
| A test done to see if a hypothesis is correct or not | experiment |
| A forecast of future event | prediction |
| Anything learned from an experiment using the 5 senses | data |
| Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome... | ??? |

Now, the last one: "Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome..."

This is not the same as the first definition of "research" (which is gathering info before). This is using that knowledge to explain results — that’s part of the conclusion.

But “result/conclusion” is already used.

Wait — maybe we misassigned?

Let’s look again:

Is there a better fit?

Actually, hypothesis is formed using prior knowledge.

But the definition says: "Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome" — that’s after the experiment, so it's conclusion.

So perhaps the last definition is also result/conclusion?

But we can’t have two definitions for the same term unless it's allowed.

Wait — the task says: "Match each word in the word bank to the given definitions below."

There are 9 terms in the word bank:

- hypothesis
- question
- purpose
- prediction
- research
- material
- result/conclusion
- experiment
- data

And 11 definitions.

That means some terms will be used more than once.

Ah! That makes sense.

So some words are used multiple times.

Now, let's reassign with that in mind.

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Let’s go one by one.

1. A possible answer to a question that can be tested → hypothesis

2. The problem you want to solve → question

3. The reason for the experiment → purpose

4. The facts you find in reference sources → research

5. The item needed to complete the experiment → material

6. The results of the experiment in a chart, graph... → data

7. The explanation of whether the experiment worked or not → result/conclusion

8. A test done to see if a hypothesis is correct → experiment

9. A forecast of future event → prediction

10. Anything learned from an experiment using the 5 senses → data (again)

11. Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome → hypothesis or research or result/conclusion?

Let’s think:

- Hypothesis: Based on prior knowledge — yes.
- But the outcome is after the experiment.
- So, using prior knowledge to explain the outcome — that’s part of drawing a conclusion.

So this is result/conclusion.

But #7 already said: "The explanation of whether the experiment worked or not" → that’s also result/conclusion.

So both #7 and #11 are result/conclusion.

That’s okay — it can be used twice.

Alternatively, is there another term?

Wait — research is gathering prior knowledge before the experiment.

But here, it's using prior knowledge to explain the outcome — that’s post-experiment reasoning.

So result/conclusion is best.

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So final matches:

1. A possible answer to a question that can be tested → hypothesis
2. The problem you want to solve → question
3. The reason for the experiment → purpose
4. The facts you find in reference sources → research
5. The item needed to complete the experiment → material
6. The results of the experiment in a chart, graph... → data
7. The explanation of whether the experiment worked or not → result/conclusion
8. A test done to see if a hypothesis is correct → experiment
9. A forecast of future event → prediction
10. Anything learned from an experiment using the 5 senses → data
11. Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome → result/conclusion

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Final Answer:

| Definition | Matched Word |
|----------|--------------|
| A possible answer to a question that can be tested to see if it is correct. | hypothesis |
| The problem you want to solve in an experiment | question |
| The reason for the experiment | purpose |
| The facts you find in reference sources that support your data or experiment | research |
| The item needed to complete the experiment | material |
| The results of the experiment in a chart, graph, or other visual form | data |
| The explanation of whether the experiment worked or not | result/conclusion |
| A test done to see if a hypothesis is correct or not. | experiment |
| A forecast of future event | prediction |
| Anything learned from an experiment using the 5 senses | data |
| Using prior knowledge that could explain the outcome of an experiment | result/conclusion |

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✔ Explanation Summary:

- Hypothesis: An educated guess that can be tested.
- Question: What you're trying to figure out.
- Purpose: Why you're doing the experiment.
- Research: Background information gathered before the experiment.
- Material: Supplies needed.
- Data: Information collected (observations, measurements).
- Experiment: The test itself.
- Prediction: A forecast based on the hypothesis.
- Result/Conclusion: Interpretation of results and whether the hypothesis was supported.

Some terms like data and result/conclusion appear more than once because they apply to different aspects of the same idea.

This exercise helps reinforce the scientific method steps: Ask a question → Do research → Form a hypothesis → Predict → Design experiment → Collect data → Analyze and conclude.