Learning & Teaching >> Moving forward with the teaching of scientific enquiry
The new curriculum 8-14 in Wales is an exciting opportunity to improve the skiills that people need in a moden, technological society.
One problem that teachers face in the delivery of this new curriculum is the lack of appropriate resources that exactly suit our curriculum.
However, Moving Forward with the Teaching of Scientific Enquiry is a DCSF resource, designed to deliver the curriculum in England, but with many activities and resources that can be adapted to suit our needs.
The resource contains many activities suitable for the introduction of specific enquiry skiils to pupils. The philosophy that underpins this particular approach to the teaching of scientific enquiry is based on:
- reducing the time spent in KS3 science lessons on the reproduction of pointless revision notes;
- decreasing the repetition of work previousl;y covered at key stage 2, and;
- increase in the amount of time spent on scientific enquiry.
One of the key ideas associated with this approach is that pupils learn difficult skills better when they are introduced n a context where the demands made on other aspects of the lesson, like development of scientific knowledge and understanding, is low.
It is worth noting that, in science, enquiry and thinking are very closely linked. Because of this, most of these resources are also useful for developing pupils' thinking skills.
The resource is free and can be ordered online from Prolog.Click here to gain access to the order form for the CD-ROM
Why not give it a try?