Primary 1 · Science · Science inquiry
Observing and recording
Children ask simple questions, make careful observations and record them using drawings, ticks in tables and simple words.
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These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to Singapore levels by age (Primary 1 is the first year of primary school). They are not aligned to MOE syllabuses or the PSLE, so check them against the syllabus your child is working towards.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Ask simple questions that can be answered by observing.
- Make careful observations using the senses.
- Record observations with labelled drawings, ticks in a table and simple words.
Success looks like
- I can ask a 'what' or 'how many' question about the world around me.
- I can look closely and notice small details.
- I can record what I found with a drawing or ticks in a table, and read my table.
The big idea
Scientists start with a question. 'I wonder' thoughts can become questions: 'What small animals live in our garden?' or 'How many petals does this flower have?'
Then they observe. They look closely, listen and feel carefully. A magnifying glass helps us see small details.
Next they record what they find so they do not forget it and can share it.
- A drawing shows what something looks like. Add labels to name the parts.
- A table helps us count. Each time we see something, we put a tick in its row. Then we count the ticks.
- Simple words describe what we noticed, such as 'green', 'spotty' or 'fast'.
Good observations describe what we really see, not what we feel about it. 'The leaf is green and has a smooth edge' is an observation. 'This is the best leaf' is an opinion.
Finally, scientists look at what they recorded to answer their question.
Worked examples
Turning a wonder into a question
Mia wonders about the bugs in her garden. What question could she ask?
- Start with 'I wonder…': I wonder what bugs live in the garden.
- Make it something she can find out by looking.
- Her question: 'What small animals can I find in my garden?'
Answer: What small animals can I find in my garden?
Ticks in a table
Mia's table shows: ants ✓✓✓✓, worms ✓✓, beetles ✓. Which animal did she see most?
- Count the ticks in each row: ants 4, worms 2, beetles 1.
- Find the biggest number: 4.
- Ants have 4 ticks.
Answer: She saw ants the most (4 times).
A labelled drawing
Draw and label a leaf.
- Look carefully at the leaf's shape, colour and lines.
- Draw it large in the middle of the page.
- Draw lines out to the parts and write labels: stalk, vein, edge.
- Write one describing word, such as 'shiny'.
Answer: A large drawing of the leaf with the labels stalk, vein and edge.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which question could you answer by observing your garden?
How many birds visit our bird bath this morning? — You can watch and count the birds to find the answer.
Which one is an observation?
This flower has five yellow petals — An observation describes what you can really see.
Why do scientists record what they observe?
So they remember and can share it — Recording helps us remember and share what we found.
What tool helps you see small details on a bug?
A magnifying glass — A magnifying glass makes small things look bigger.
A table shows: snails ✓✓✓, spiders ✓. Which was seen more?
Snails — Snails have 3 ticks and spiders have 1.
A table shows: ladybirds ✓✓✓. How many ladybirds were seen?
3 — Count the ticks: 1, 2, 3.
A weather table shows: sunny ✓✓✓✓✓, rainy ✓✓. How many more sunny days than rainy days?
3 — 5 sunny days take away 2 rainy days is 3.
The words that name the parts of a drawing are called ____.
labels — Labels name the parts of a drawing.
Watch out for
- Children may think a quick look is enough. Encourage them to look for at least one more detail each time.
- Children may draw what they think something looks like instead of what is in front of them. Keep the real object nearby while drawing.
- Some children mix up opinions and observations. Ask 'Can everyone see that?' to check.
Tips for parents
- Prepare a simple table with pictures in the first column so your child can tick without needing to write.
- Ask open questions like 'What do you notice?' and 'What else can you see?'
- Safety: an adult lifts rocks and logs, tipping them away from you; look but do not touch spiders or stinging insects; wash hands afterwards.
Go further
- Do a five-minute bird watch from a window and tick a table each time a bird lands.
- Keep a nature journal with one labelled drawing each week.
- Ask family members a question and record their answers with ticks in a table.
About 35 minutes
You'll need
- A clipboard or a book to lean on
- Paper with a simple table drawn on it
- Pencils and crayons
- A magnifying glass if you have one
- A garden, park or balcony with plants
Key words
- question
- Something we ask because we want to find out.
- observe
- To use our senses to notice things carefully.
- record
- To write or draw what we found so we remember it.
- table
- Rows and columns used to sort and record information.
- tick
- A mark (✓) we draw in a table each time we see something.
- label
- A word that names a part of a drawing.
Still tricky?
For parents
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