Course Resources Archive

Students build on their knowledge and understanding of science, established in years one and two, to develop a creative and confident approach to primary science teaching, including: approaches to planning, expectations and target setting; monitoring and assessment; and, teaching and class management.  The module emphasises the role of science in the learners’ understanding of how to live safe and healthy lives.

The two main taught strands cover Professional Issues and Early Years Foundation Stage and Primary Science. The delivery of the module will be differentiated according to the route students take (3 - 7 or 5 - 11).

Professional Issues: learning in science; finding out what learners know (elicitation); recording; planning for primary science; safety, organisation, resources; teaching strategies; assessment and recording in science; progression, continuity and match; equal opportunities (including SEN, EAL, Cultural Diversity, Gender); science in the whole curriculum; Health Education; Science and Play; Use of ICT in Primary Science.

Early Years Foundation Stage and Primary Science: The four strands of the NC (Scientific Enquiry, Life Processes & Living Things; Materials and their Properties; and, Physical Processes) have been divided into 12 units of study each supported by the extensive in-house authored study guide with associated practical resources.

The module is taught through a variety of lectures (whole cohort) and practical workshops (groups of about 30) and smaller study groups (4-6 students) and draws on school experience. This module completes the coverage of teaching primary science started in BED247.

Knowledge and Understanding:

1)     Have a secure knowledge and understanding of the National Curriculum at either Foundation and KS1 or KS1 and KS2

2)     Have a good understanding of how children learn in science, drawing on the constructivist approach to learning in science

3)     Have a good knowledge of how to engage children in interesting and positive activities in science

4)     Have a good knowledge and understanding of the teacher’s responsibilities in meeting the learning needs of all children in science

5)     Have a good understanding of the impact of formative assessment on children’s learning in science

6)     Have a good understanding of the place of science in developing the learners’ understanding of health and well-being

Skills:

1)     Effective planning to ensure productive learning for all children

2)     Using assessment as a tool to enhance learning opportunities for all children

3)     Using a range of teaching and learning approaches in order to develop the scientific understanding of the learner

4)     Reflecting critically on the theory of constructivism

Staff/student contact: 20%
Directed and student private study: 80%

Students are supported in their study by an in-house authored work book entitled ‘Teaching Primary Science’.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.