What could you investigate?

Every investigation starts with a real question about a real system. Bring what you already know. Notice what is unusual or surprising.

• Name your investigationA clear title and driving question that others can understand.
• Plan a fair testA written plan naming one variable to change, what to measure, and what stays the same.
• Anchor to your placeNotes linking your investigation to awa, whenua, or school systems.
• Map prior knowledgeWhat you think is true before new evidence — so you can notice change.
• Start from an inquiry worldA teacher-sequenced STEM inquiry topic with wero, first step, and mentor hints.

Measure consistently. Record date and time of every entry. The most valuable datasets show change over time — what is different today from last week?

• Field notebookTimestamped measurements and observations in your dataset.
• Repeat measuresMultiple trials of the same measure to show spread, not just average.
• Controlled-variable runA run where only one thing changes while everything else stays fixed.
• Photo or diagram evidenceVisual records that anchor numbers to what actually happened.
• Make sense of messy dataMentor prompts to notice patterns without writing the claim for you.

A strong claim is specific: it names a relationship, not just a measurement. Link it to your actual data — not to what you think should be true.

• Draft a claimA specific statement about what your evidence shows — not just what you measured.
• Link evidence to claimExplicit ties between datapoints and the statement you are defending.
• Set confidence honestlyA percentage or level plus why — including what could change your mind.
• Explain the systemHow parts connect — causes, flows, and feedback beyond a single claim.
• Challenge your claimMentor pressure-test for alternative explanations and missing evidence.

A system explanation goes beyond your claim. Explain how the parts connect. What causes what? What happens when one thing changes?

• Choose your arcMake, Tell, Change, or Test — the direction your evidence supports next.
• Design briefConstraints, audience, and success criteria for what you will build or communicate.
• AI Design PartnerFour-stage coach for feasible builds — you author every decision.
• Tell or change pathwayArticle, letter, or action plan when your arc is Tell or Change.
• Test pathway planNext fair test when your arc is Test — one variable, clear success rule.

Three questions. Answer each one honestly: What does this mean for your system? What are the limits of what you found? What would you investigate next?

• Revise your thinkingWhat changed from your first claim — and why the evidence demanded it.
• Consequence reflectionWho benefits or bears risk if you are wrong — limits and next questions.
• Portfolio evidence stripCurated artefacts that tell the inquiry story end-to-end.
• Exit reflectionShort capture of what you learned about thinking scientifically.
• Choose a next stepMentor maps evidence to your best VOICE phase move — you choose.

Bounded help — questions and next steps, not answers written for you.

• Ask a questionPlain-language help to understand an idea tied to class science.
• Plan a fair testCoach walks variables, controls, measures, hazards — you decide.
• Make sense of my dataNotices patterns with you; you anchor every point in your numbers.
• Challenge my claimPressure-tests evidence fit and alternative explanations.
• Choose a next stepMaps your evidence to Make / Tell / Change / Test — you choose.