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What is a Hypothesis? Why is it important in Science?

What is a Hypothesis? Why is it important in Science?

Author: Wendy Norton

Students will discover what a hypothesis is and why it is important to science.

Students will explore forming their own hypothesis statements.

Students learn about scientific hypotheses. They are given tips for developing hypotheses and practice properly wording a hypothesis.

Through a variety of centers students work through forming their own hypothesis, including a reading activity, a hands on activity and a web interactive with video.

Students prior to the lesson will listen to an audio file and a PowerPoint Video lecture on what a hypothesis is.

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What is a Hypothesis Video - Lecture

The video lecture gives examples of what a good hypothesis should look like. As you watch the video be sure to take notes on what the definition of a hypothesis is, write an example good hypothesis that is correct and one that is a bad example. Be sure to state why it is written incorrectly.

Source: Wendy Norton

Constructing a Hypothesis Audio File

Listen to the audio as you read the constructing a hypothesis introduction example.

Source: Wendy Norton

Constructing a Hypothesis

Constructing a Hypothesis

Listen to the file hypothesis.mp3 as you read this.

A hypothesis is an educated explanation of an observation or phenomenon. The scientific method is a set of steps to follow when setting up a scientific experiment. Forming a hypothesis is one of the steps in the scientific method. A hypothesis should always be testable and logical. For example, you observe that you have more squirrels in your yard when the bird feeder in your yard is full of bird seed than when the feeder is empty. Your hypothesis could be:


If there is bird seed in the bird feeder then there will be more squirrels in the yard


The hypothesis is logical based on your observations and is also testable. You could set up an experiment and record data to confirm if your hypothesis is correct or incorrect.


Source: Wendy Norton

Writing Hypothesis Reading Center

Center #1 students that are ESE, ESL (Level 1 or 2) can work in reading groups to complete the practice worksheet with teacher direct instruction.


Source: Wendy Norton

Center #2-Create you own Hypothesis

This center is for grade level and above who understand the concept and need to practice making hypotheses. Once complete they can move to center 33.


Source: Wendy Norton

Center #3 - Video Enrichment Discovery Education

This center is for those students who complete the other centers and need to expand their knowledge going deeper into the subject matter- Gifted-High Achievers

Using Discovery Education Assignment Builder students complete the assignment using the following URL.



Source: Discovery Education Streaming

Dogs & Turnips Lab (Whole Group)


Glue into your interactive notebook page XX


Formative Hypothesis

This is a formative assessment to end the unit. I would modify for gifted and ESE/ESL learners.