Year 9 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 14

Causal vs Correlational Relationships

Foundation Worksheet

Name
Date
Class

Learning Goals

Warm Up

Sort it!

Write each statement from the pool into the correct box. Decide whether it describes a true cause (one thing makes another happen) or only a correlation (the two just move together).

Turning a dimmer switch up makes the room brighter. Ice-cream sales and drownings both rise in summer. Heating water makes it boil faster. Towns with more bookshops have more heart attacks. Pressing the accelerator makes a car speed up. People with bigger feet read better. Adding fertiliser makes a plant grow taller. Towns with more firefighters have more fire damage.

True Cause (causation)

Correlation Only

Your Turn

Fill the gap

Choose the correct word from the word bank to complete each sentence. Two words will not be used.

correlation causation positive negative confounding coincidence experiment larger smaller

A is a pattern where two variables tend to change together. When both variables rise together, it is called a correlation. When one variable rises as the other falls, it is called a correlation. means a change in one variable directly produces a change in the other. A hidden third variable that drives two others is called a variable. The strongest way to test for a real cause is to run a controlled . A pattern found across a dataset is more trustworthy than one from a tiny sample.

Show What You Know

1. In your own words, explain the difference between a correlation and a causation. Give one example of each.

Recall 2 marks

2. Ice-cream sales and drownings rise together every summer. Name the confounding variable that drives both, and explain in one sentence why ice cream does not cause drowning.

Recall 2 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?

HSCScience · Year 9 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 14 · Foundation Worksheet