Science isn't really a pile of facts to remember — it's a way of finding things out for yourself. Whenever you wonder "what would happen if…?" and then try it to see, you are being a scientist.

Scientists have a few favourite moves. They:

• look carefully at what is really happening;
• ask questions they can test;
• run a fair test so the answer can be trusted;
• measure with the right tool; and
• record what they found so others can see it too.

The very first move is to look closely. From far away a ladybird is just a red dot. Pick up a magnifier and suddenly you can count its spots and legs! Switch to Magnifier and see how much more a careful scientist can notice.

Your working-scientifically journey

Begin with Observing and Asking Questions, then learn how to make a test that's really fair in Fair Tests, how to measure carefully, and how to record your results so the patterns jump out.