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Aspects of Science you have to Teach

There are lots of aspects of science that you will incorporate in your lessons. The aim should be to deepen the student's understanding of the scientific method and current knowledge, while impressing on them that we nowhere near 'know' or 'understand' everything. They should also be made aware of the controversies and political and ethical dilemmas that scientific advances can trigger.

Data collection, evidence, theories and explanations

Pupils should be taught:

how scientific data can be collected and analysed.

how interpretation of data, using creative thought, provides evidence to test ideas and develop theories,

how explanations of many phenomena can be developed using scientific theories, models and ideas that there are some questions that science cannot currently answer, and some that science cannot address.

Practical and enquiry skills

Pupils should be taught to:

plan to test a scientific idea,

answer a scientific question, or

solve a scientific problem.

collect data from primary or secondary sources, including using ICT sources and tools.

work accurately and safely, individually and with others, when collecting first-hand data.

evaluate methods of collection of data and consider their validity and reliability as evidence.

Communication skills

Pupils should be taught to:

recall, analyse, interpret, apply and question scientific information or ideas use both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

present information, develop an argument and draw a conclusion, using scientific, technical and mathematical language, conventions and symbols and ICT tools.

Applications and implications of science

Pupils should be taught:

about the use of contemporary scientific and technological developments and their benefits, drawbacks and risks.

to consider how and why decisions about science and technology are made, including those that raise ethical issues, and about the social, economic and environmental effects of such decisions.

how uncertainties in scientific knowledge and scientific ideas change over time and about the role of the scientific community in validating these changes.

Teaching to get high grades

To get high grades for their pupils teachers do not have to just impart knowledge on topics - they have to impart it 'under the light of what they will be expected to know at GCSE' so it is a good idea to get students using the correct terminology as early as possible.

Examination boards have their own specific language for practical investigations and pupils are tested on knowing their specific terms in relation to practical experiments - good teachers start to introduce these terms from Y7 onwards and reinforce them whenever possible so that using them is second nature by KS4.