English National Curriculum - Science

5. Making a cake: fair testing, controls and variables

Mission Objectives

Identify an independent variable to investigate

Understand what a fair test is and which variables need to be controlled in an experiment

Explain how to carry out a fair test, including the importance of a control test

Enquiry Skill - Setting up tests

Carefully following a method and using equipment accurately to carry out a scientific enquiry. The method may be designed by teachers or children themselves.

Enquiry Approach - Comparative / fair testing

Conducting a test that controls all but one variable to answer a scientific question.

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Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

reaction

a chemical change where substances turn into new ones

variable

something that is changed in an experiment

control experiment

an experiment that is used to compare with other experiments where there are variables

measurement

the exact quality of something

fair test

where one variable is changed and all other elements are kept the same

Alpha Resilience and Capability (ARC)

This lesson has been written by

Heather Bingham

Heather qualified with a first-class honours degree in climate science from the University of East Anglia. Since, she has joined Developing Experts as a writer and presenter, specialising in earth and environmental sciences.

She is also an internationally published science author, having written a series of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) digital textbooks aimed at improving learners’ understanding of English whilst igniting an interest in science.

Sarah Mintey MBE

Sarah is a former headteacher and charity CEO who founded Developing Experts in October 2015 with the goal to create a fit-for-purpose curriculum for schools. The company has created a science curriculum for children ages 4-16 which is delivered through sequenced lessons mapped against the National Curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics. Developing Expert's innovative approach to learning has already been road-tested and voted 'best EdTech product in Europe', winning Tech Nation’s Rising Stars earlier in 2019 and a place on Google for Startups Immersion program 2020. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022. In October 2022 Developing Experts joined Tech Nation's Upscale 8.0 programme.

Sarah is delighted to be working with over 6500 UK schools and clients such as the Royal Horticulture Society, Network Rail, Rolls Royce, BEIS, National Nuclear Labs, Anglian Water and the Ministry of Defence.

Sarah was awarded an MBE for her services to tech and education in 2020.

Katie Barrie

Katie is the Chief Operating Officer at DE, which means she oversees HR, finance and our business model. After studying Drama at Exeter University, Katie spent three years as a primary teacher, before relocating to Norfolk and joining Developing Experts.

In her spare time, Katie likes to sing with Norwich Harmony barbershop chorus and has recently formed a quartet. Katie loves cooking and spending time with her husband, Bryan and dog, Bertie. She has an endearing laugh, which has to be heard to be believed. Many of us see Katie as the office 'Mum', she gives great hugs and keeps our spirits up.

Contact: [email protected]

Clare Faulkner

Clare is an experienced primary teacher with extensive experience across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. She has a strong background in curriculum design and development, contributing to programmes across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2, ensuring they are engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically effective.

Before joining Developing Experts, Clare served as a QA Inspector for a childcare agency, rigorously applying the Ofsted inspection framework to evaluate and enhance educational provision. She also brings insight into school governance, supporting strategic decision-making and understanding the operational and pedagogical challenges faced by schools.

Clare is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-informed learning experiences that inspire curiosity and foster academic and personal growth. She maintains a deep knowledge of current educational research, teaching strategies, and best practices to continually enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

Emma Wilding

Emma is an experienced primary teacher with over twelve years of classroom experience and a strong background in curriculum leadership. She has led history within schools and contributed to curriculum development across academy trusts, supporting the design of coherent, knowledge-rich programmes that enable pupils to build understanding over time.

Emma has a particular passion for writing high-quality curricula that are carefully sequenced, engaging, and rooted in strong subject knowledge. She is committed to creating lessons that are lively, meaningful, and accessible, helping children to grasp complex ideas through clear explanations and purposeful activities that support long-term learning.

Through her curriculum leadership, Emma has supported schools in preparing for successful Ofsted inspections, ensuring that subjects are well structured and effectively implemented. She is dedicated to designing learning experiences that spark curiosity and help pupils make meaningful connections between the past, the present, and the wider world.

Required Resources

Resources: Butter, caster sugar, self-raising flour, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, a mixing bowl, a whisk, a wooden spoon, a measuring jug, weighing scales, an oven and a 20cm cake tin (variables could also include baking powder, water and a selection of different flours, e.g. plain or gluten-free).

Support Handout (1): A scaffolded investigation sheet which has space for the children to write their question, prediction, ingredient and equipment list, along with activities to support creating a method and the variables they will change and control. A space for the children to draw what they think their cake will look like is also included, along with a recipe for a control cake.

Core Handout (2): An investigation sheet which has space for the children to write their question, prediction, ingredient and equipment list and their method, along with questions to support writing the variables they will change and control. A space for the children to draw what they think their cake will look like is also included, along with a recipe for a control cake.

Stretch Handout (3): An investigation sheet which has space for the children to write their question, prediction, ingredient and equipment list, method, and how they will make the experiment a fair test. A space for the children to draw what they think their cake will look like is also included, along with a recipe for a control cake.

Challenge Handout (4): An extra sheet with a space for the children to explain how they will ensure they're conducting a fair test, including why a control test is important.