PART A Report on Teaching of Science with list of references at the end
Introduction
This report aims to look at how we should be implementing the Science curriculum, in accordance to what the authors and professionals think, it will look at how it should be taught in primary schools. The key stage I have chosen to examine is lower key stage two. Lower key stage two consists of children in Year 3 (aged 7-8) and Year 4 (8-9). The report will examine the National Curriculum and how teaching of Science is defined by them. The National Curriculum (2014 p.155) requires children of this age phase to work scientifically. This would namely be looking at encouraging children to ask their own questions, how to set up a practical investigation, gathering the results through numerous graphs/charts (recording data) comparing and analysing what makes a fair test, predicting what the outcome may be (with independent and dependant variables), how to make observations based on these findings, identifying and comparing what they predicted as opposed to what happened, and lastly being able to answer questions using scientific terminology and knowledge. By using various literature and documentation, this report will look at how teachers can teach Science but at the same time be using the National Curriculum as a guideline.
Review of teaching
Working Scientifically
Ofsted (2013) states that the new National Curriculum for 2014 explains the reasoning for teaching Science. It states that pupils should be encouraged to use Science to explain occurrence, prediction and analyse why something has happened. Wilcox, Kruse and Clough explain ‘Science Inquiry’ as it was previously referred to, working through enquiry through pedagogical choices. It refers to teachers working through the promotion of practice. Working scientifically is described by The National Foundation for Education