STAR Alliance Science Meeting Minutes
Thursday the 28th of September 2017
- Present
Jess Kinsley (JK) / Kellington
Vicky Walsh (VW) / Monk Fryston
Chris Hampton (CH) / Sherburn High School
Sal Ramzan (SR) / Tadcaster East
Lynsay Fullerton (LF) / Tadcaster Grammar School
Sarah Oliver (SO) / Riverside
Becca Cameron (BC) / Kirk Fenton
Amy Campbell (AC) / Appleton Roebuck
Ryan Brooks (RB) / Carlton in Snaith
Caroline Russell (CR) / St Mary’s Selby
2) One thing we like for teaching science
LF demonstrated a practical activity for teaching natural selection using yellow and green paper moths on yellow and green backgrounds. Teams played the role of predatory birds competing for birds. Less camouflaged moths were eaten than those of a contrasting colour to the background. Discussion was made about how this was activity could be used for discussion around fair testing and with links to the Industrial Revolution and the peppered moth for history. VW mentioned a similar wiggly worm activity from the Eden project
SO demonstrated using a dog with her year 2 group which prompted students to think about fair testing with sections for factors to change, measure and keep the same. Similar resources are available on fronter to be made into A1 posters and used with older year groups.
VW demonstrated a TAPS activity where year 1 students used various materials to make a poster of a plant. Students added labels for plant organs to name them and describe their function. VW commented on how useful the posters were for assessment purposes as they clearly demonstrated levels.
SR talked about using concept cartoons and various ways they can be used in class; role modelling, as a poster, inserting student responses. They were described as useful starting points to introduce topics and led to quality responses and an opportunity to assess prior knowledge. SR also described bringing in various media to inspire students including a tray of materials including coins to introduce magnetic and non-magnetic materials. CH mentioned since 1992 the copper content of small denomination coins is less now and no longer magnetic. CH suggested this could lead to an interesting investigation to find out the newest coin which is magnetic.
2) Assessment
SO talked about the use of ‘rising star’ assessments.SO circulated examples of each year group. Advantages were testing before and after topics to inform teaching and demonstrate progress. Data generated objective levels and the process was quicker than subjective levelling of tasks. The exam style questions prepared students for KS3 and 4. Disadvantages were the expense of £150 per year group which was a limiting factor for many departments.
VW talked about using TAPS assessments. VW’s previous plant posters were an example of a TAPS assessment. Advantages discussed were that TAPS was free. The activities were linked well to the curriculum and designed to be fun and engaging. Outcomes seemed to make levelled outcomes clear. Disadvantages were that it doesn’t prepare students for assessment at a secondary level and can be subjective.
SR Circulated resources from TAPS which included examples of activities and overviews of activities for each topic in each year group. Similarly to VW, SR related that they were simple engaging activities which required materials which were readily available to primary school teachers.
3) Key practical skills in KS3, 4 and 5
LF circulated booklets with examples of how practical skills are assessed across key stages 3,4 and 5. The emphasis was that those practical skills embedded in KS1 and 2 are still significant throughout the rest of a student’s school career. Additionally, the booklets provided a sample of how practical skills are assessed in secondary schools now that course work no longer exists.
4) Secondary Science Visit
LF described visits
South Milford
Year 3 Rocks
Year 4 Microscopes
SherburnHungate
Year 5 Light
Riverside
Year 3 Light
SO talked about the advantages of having a specialist teacher visiting the primary school. LF extended the invitation to other STAR primary schools with suggestions such as simple chemistry practical separating mixtures, heart dissections, visit to high school, bunsen burner practical, red cabbage indicator lessons. Primary schools could plan how this would best suit them throughout the school year.
5) AOB
Recommended resources in the meeting
YPTE website
Eden Project – please see website resources
Tina Roberts – Forest Schools Plus please see website for visits and resources
Pinterest – for all sorts of teaching ideas
6) Future Agenda
It was decided that the focus for the group should be working scientifically for the remaining two meetings. With a view to this the future agenda was decided as follows:
1)One teaching idea for working scientifically in science
2)TAPS – teachers compare how we’ve used their resources for assessment
3)CH to bring a practical booklet for marking ideas
4)Begin to plan resources we could create/share for the meeting in July by examining KS3 to KS1/2 crossover
5)Adapt NYCC fronter assessment guidelines.
Meeting Dates
Thursday the 11th of January 2018 1-3pm
Thursday the 21st of June 2018 1-3pm