Identifying the variables in a science project is an important step in the Scientific Method. As students work on designing their science project and writing a hypothesis, it is important that they be able to single out the different types of variables in the project and understand how the variables are related to the testing, data gathering, and analysis. What will be changed during each trial? What will be watched to see if a change occurs? What will remain the same and unchanged in all trials? How do these variable types relate to the hypothesis statement? How are the variables related to how data can be charted on a simple graph?

Students can learn more, review examples, and evaluate their own variables using a handy checklist in the variables section of the Science Buddies Project Guide.