MIP #9

Take advantage…

Of opportunities that arise.

If it snows.. Explore it.

If it is windy… use it.

If there is an event in the classroom, develop it.  

All learning is valuable.

I wonder what the pattern is?  Is there always a smaller one next to a larger one?  Are the pips only in the large segments?

MIP #24

Focus on 1 skill at a time

Would you be better developing recording or concluding with the activity you have planned?  Plan outcomes on this one skill and this is the one the children write up for marking and feedback.

Teach the skill, then in apply it in different contexts (topics)

MIP #19

Share your workload

Why not involve all staff in a work scrutiny?

By all staff working pairs to discuss the work seen, ideas can be shared, as well as a common approach and new ideas developed.

MIP #57

Read All About It…

It may be old fashioned but either set up a physical news sheet (A3 paper folder over) or a page on the school website for titbits and a competition.  Children love weird facts and these can be found on the Internet (e.g. Sciencekids) or set an activity to be done at home (e.g. Steve Spangler or the Science Museum website have lots of ideas)

MIP #341

Give your children responsibility

E.g. 1 per child in class for generic tasks;

Or a small group to act as ‘Science Technicians’ who help with the resources;

Or peer support in investigations, helping out others with skills.

So how much science can you get from this lot?  

What questions would you have?  What type of enquiry or question would it be?  

Would it be science?

MIP #109

Which type of enquiry?

A simple object can lead to lots of questions which will produce different types of enquiries.

In simple terms if there is a biological element in the investigation, it is difficult to apply a ‘fair test’ so it may be a pattern seeking enquiry.

MIP #24

Focus on 1 skill at a time

Would you be better developing recording or concluding with the activity you have planned?  Plan outcomes on this one skill and this is the one the children write up for marking and feedback.

Teach the skill, then in apply it in different contexts (topics)

MIP #126

Get them Thinking

Instead of reading during registration, have a thinking skills activity on the board…

If this is the answer, then what is the question.  Post answer that require a bit of creative thinking  For example putting up the answer: ‘12’ can lead to both maths answers as well as science ones - have a go!

MIP #49

Encourage Creativity…

Take in a balloon for each member of staff -  what experiments can you do with it? What equipment would you need?  What skills could you use?  Which topic area does it fit into?

This may sound backwards, but it will encourage staff to be more creative with the activities and equipment they use in their topics.

MIP #56

Are there any truly ‘Fair Test’ experiments?

Consider any of the activities you do and ask if there is anything you can’t control… How fair are they really?

MIP #49

Encourage Creativity…

Take in a balloon for each member of staff -  what experiments can you do with it? What equipment would you need?  What skills could you use?  Which topic area does it fit into?

This may sound backwards, but it will encourage staff to be more creative with the activities and equipment they use in their topics.

MIP #52

Use Science Writing for your English Moderation

Sounds ambitious doesn’t it?  However by providing a structure for writing and prompt questions, just as we would in English you too can use Science for English Moderation.  

Resources

MIP #44

Raise the Profile of Science…

… not just for the staff, but for the children, the parents and the wide community.  Why not take part in PSQM to help you do this?

www.psqm.org.uk