Investigation Stations

Curriculum Area

Science – Working Scientifically (Key Stage 1, Year 2)
Aligned with the UK National Curriculum, this lesson focuses on developing investigative skills, including observing, performing simple tests, identifying and classifying, and using observations to answer questions.

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Lesson Objective

To engage students in hands-on scientific investigations using an Investigation Station approach, fostering curiosity, observation, and reasoning skills.

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Lesson Duration

15 minutes

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Materials Needed

• Magnifying glasses
• Small cups of water
• Feathers, leaves, small stones, and paper clips
• Mini whiteboards and marker pens
• Stopwatches or sand timers

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (2 minutes) – Thinking Like a Scientist

• Gather students and introduce today’s challenge: “Can you investigate objects like a scientist?”
• Discuss briefly what scientists do: observe carefully, ask questions, test ideas.

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2. Investigation Stations (10 minutes)

Each student rotates through three Investigation Stations, spending 3 minutes at each.

Station 1: Sink or Float?

• Fill a container with water.
• Students predict which objects will float or sink (feather, small stone, paper clip).
• Record results on a mini whiteboard.

Station 2: Magnifying Wonders

• Students examine a leaf, a feather, and a piece of paper using a magnifying glass.
• Describe what they see: What’s different up close? What patterns do they notice?
• Use whiteboards to sketch their observations.

Station 3: Fast or Slow?

• Drop a feather and a small stone from the same height. Which lands first?
• Discuss: Why do some things fall faster than others?
• Use a sand timer to measure how long it takes.

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3. Wrap-Up and Discussion (3 minutes)

• Gather together and ask, “What did you discover today?”
• Encourage students to explain why they think their results happened.
• Recap how scientists use observations to understand the world.

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Assessment and Reflection

Formative assessment through:
✅ Observing student engagement and discussion
✅ Mini whiteboard drawings and written predictions
✅ Encouraging students to justify their reasoning aloud

Extension Idea:
For extra challenge, ask: “What if we used a bigger stone? Would that change the result?”

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Teacher Reflection

Did students stay engaged? Where did they struggle? Consider adjusting station timing or adding a fourth station in future sessions.

🎉 A fun, hands-on way to build science skills while keeping young learners curious!