Students plan a fair test for one paper airplane question on this 3-page 3rd grade science sheet: does wing size change how far a plane flies? Page 1 is a planning organizer with lines for a hypothesis, boxes for what to change and measure, a three-column table for what to keep the same, and a number of tests. Page 2 compares Maya's plan and Leo's plan. Students circle the fair one and explain what went wrong in the other. Page 3 has a model plan.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, grades 3-5
“Plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, using fair tests in which variables are controlled and the number of trials considered.”
Part 1 asks for the changed variable, three controlled variables and a number of trials. Part 2 asks students to spot a test that changes two things.
The question is printed. Students write a hypothesis, one thing to change, what to measure, three things to keep the same (Same 1, Same 2, Same 3) and how many times to test each plane.
Two short plans with pictures. Maya uses the same notebook paper for a big-winged and a small-winged plane. Leo uses thin notebook paper for one plane and thick cardboard for the other. Students circle the fair test and explain on five lines why the other is unfair.
Model answers for the organizer (wing size changed, distance measured, same paper, same thrower, same place, at least 3 tests) and the reason Leo's test was unfair.
Fold the planes first
Let students fold a big-winged and a small-winged plane before they fill in the organizer. Holding both makes it easier to decide what has to stay the same.
Then run it
After the planning page, run the test as a class. A tape measure and a strip of tape on the floor are all you need, and students can compare their plans with what happens.
Fix Leo's test
Ask students to say what Leo has to change so that his test is fair. They should say both planes use the same paper.
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