Same Science › Explaining results › Lab write-ups
How do kids write a lab write-up?
A lab write-up tells the story of an experiment in the same order every time: the question, the hypothesis, materials, a numbered procedure someone else could follow, the data (a table and often a graph), and a conclusion. The conclusion is where most points are lost: it should say whether the hypothesis was supported, using numbers from the data, and what could be improved.
- Before the experiment: question, hypothesis, materials, procedure.
- After: data, then the conclusion.
- The procedure is numbered steps another person could repeat.
Why schools teach it
Writing it so someone else could repeat it
Students plan and carry out investigations and communicate what they found (NGSS science practices 3 and 8). Middle schoolers also write procedures and explanations as technical writing (WHST.6-8.2).
The write-up turns a fun activity into evidence. If the procedure is clear, someone else could repeat it and check the result, which is how real science works.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
Could a friend repeat your experiment from your procedure?
Steps numbered, amounts given.Was your hypothesis supported? Which numbers show it?
What would you change if you did it again?
That's the error and improvement part.Is the conclusion in your own words, not just “it worked”?
Skip this
- Saying the hypothesis was “wrong” like a failure.Say “not supported,” and explain the data.
- A procedure without amounts.“Some water” becomes “100 mL of water.”
- A conclusion with no data in it.Name at least one number from the results.
See it in action
Conclusion for the light and plant experiment
Restate the hypothesis and say if it was supported
My hypothesis that more light makes plants taller was supported.Give the evidence
Plants with 12 hours grew 15 cm; plants with 0 hours grew 2 cm.Name an error and an improvement
One plant got knocked over; next time I would test more plants.
Many classes use the CER frame for the conclusion.
Free practice sheet
Make a lab write-up sheet
Loading practice sheet…
Fridge cheat sheets
Science Fridge Cheat Sheets
Every science method in one printable book (36 pages): a cheat sheet page like this guide, plus a practice sheet and its answer key for each, in Classic and handwritten Notebook styles. $8 one time, or all 7 subjects for $29.99. See all prices.
Teacher? This method has a classroom pack on TeachersPayTeachers: an anchor chart, a parent letter and practice sheets with answer keys, $4. See the pack
Parents: tell your child's teacher about this guide
Parents also ask
Is this the scientific method?
Close. Many classes now teach it as a flexible set of practices, but the write-up still uses these sections.
Does the procedure need to be numbered?
Usually yes. Numbered steps are easier to follow and repeat.
What's an error or limitation?
Something that might have affected the results, like a sloppy measurement or only one trial.
Does every lab need a graph?
Not always, but most data with numbers should have a graph from about fourth grade on.