Transcript Document

My School Based Science
Development Project
Ellie Quinn
What’s on the menu?
 My specialism school – what was it like?
 Approach to science within the school
 Interview with science co-ordinator
 Observations of science lessons
 Science intervention groups
 Science lesson
 Some misconceptions
 Science quiz…with prize for the winner!
Canon Burrows Primary School
 Church of England Primary
school with a two form
entry.
 Year 4 host class.
 Science taught on weekly
basis.
 Science planning
completed over the
holidays in my host class.
 School was well resourced
e.g. plenty of WORKING
science equipment.
Science in Canon Burrows
 Science co-ordinator worked in the nursery.
 Science co-ordinator had studied science at A-level and
had completed a science secondary PGCE (specialising in
science).
 All co-ordinators in the school have the responsibility of
devising the medium term plans.
 Recent science events in school:
The Lighthouse
Keepers Lunch
•
Science topic with
literacy links which
took place in the
spring term 2011.
•
Used throughout the
school (from nursery
up to year 6)
•
Used picture/story
book to make
common crosscurricular links.
•
Each class was to
contribute a particular
part of their learning
to the overall finished
display.
What types of Investigations took
place?
 Exploring the properties of water (Reception and
Nursery)
 Humans and keeping healthy (Year 1)
 Floating and Sinking (Year 2)
 Properties of materials (Year 3)
 Types of forces (Year 4 and 5)
 Micro-organisms (Year 6)
Changes to the science teaching
 February to December last year – science consultant.
 School recognised a need for intervention with science in
the school.
 Changes made so that there is now a scheme or work
for every year.
 This has meant however that due to the change some
classes are covering the same topic twice. This is
evident later in my science lesson.
 Each teacher is given a medium term plan which
correlates with ‘Spellbound Science’. Each topic has a
plan alongside it which shows knowledge, enquiry, key
vocabulary and key resources.
Key points made by the science
co-ordinator
 Removal of science from SATs has had a detrimental
impact on science teaching.
 Crucial to have a strong link with staff, this helped her
planning. It is also useful for ordering resources.
 Best ways to keep up to date are training days and press
releases.
 Science is recommended to take place on a weekly basis
however it is ultimately up to the class teacher when
this takes place as long as all topics are covered within
the term.
Science Lesson Observations
 Reception – Knowledge and understanding of the world
(Investigating the level of waterproofing in materials)
 Year 2 – Changing materials (LO: to identify that some
materials occur naturally and some are manufactured.
LO: To state that some materials can be altered by
bending, squashing, twisting and stretching).
 Year 5 – Earth and space (LO: to investigate the
position of the sun).
Science Intervention Groups
 Groups of 3 or 4 children taken
out during afternoon lessons
(Year 4).
 Children were taken in ability
groups, starting from the higher
ability to the lower ability.
 LO: To make a complete circuit
in which a motor moves
clockwise and anti-clockwise.
 LO: To be able to change the
speed of the motor.
 Learning Outcomes:
1) I made a complete circuit in
which the motor moved
clockwise and anti-clockwise.
2) I was able to make the motor
speed up or slow down.
How did the children succeed?
 Difference between the higher ability and lower ability
was evident in their use of vocabulary, familiarity with
the equipment and problem solving skills.
 Majority of children were able to recall previous learning
on electricity topic.
 Some children using terms such as ‘theory’ instead of
prediction.
 Children able to change the speed of the motor and used
trial and error to change the direction of the motor.
Science Lesson
 LO: To plan and conduct an investigation to answer the
question “Can you make a circuit without any wires?”
 LO: To form a conclusion to answer the question.
 Learning Outcomes:
1) I have planned and carried out an investigation to
answer a question.
2) I have formed a conclusion to answer a question.
3) I know what “conductor” and “insulator” mean.
How did the children succeed?
 Children worked in Kagan teams.
 Children able to identify materials and sort them into
insulators and conductors.
 Class discussion on paper clips.
 All children achieved the LO.
 Some children needed help with recording the results.
Science Display
Circuits wall display – Year 4
Misconceptions
 “add more wires to the
circuit to make the motor
spin faster”
 “put the battery on
opposite side of battery
holder to change the
direction of the motor”
 “rolling the aluminium
foil makes it a better
conductor”
Misconceptions Quiz – True or
False
 The Great Wall of China is the only human made object
visible from the moon.
 The change of seasons is due to the Earth being closer to
the sun in summer and further away in Winter.
 Dogs sweat by salivating.
 All bats are blind.
 Sunflowers track the sun throughout the day.
 Humans evolved from chimpanzees.
 Eating less than an hour before swimming causes cramps.
 Human blood when inside the body is blue.
 Swallowing chewing gum takes years to digest.
 Alcohol makes the body warmer.
 Humans can catch warts from toads and other animals.
Some good ideas…
 Animoto http://animoto.com/play/rzOH7fNJ60ZC7Z
IwPHisEA
 Glogster http://www.glogster.com/aoifeeq/circuits/g6kv96c9al5m16cq0tcahga0
Last slide…
 Any questions?