Science Inquiry

Stephen LakelandRISTA Annual Conference

Welcome!

• If you enjoy this presentation, I’m Stephen Lakeland.

• If you don’t enjoy the next 45 minutes, I’m not him !

What this session is about?

• WALT• A rather English view of Science Inquiry

(Enquiry).

• WILF• Being empowered to criticize, improve, use

and grade up-and-running, ready-to-go, Science Investigations.

Inquiry depends on how you look at it……………

What do YOU see in this picture ?

Did you see them both ?

FROG HORSE

Britain and the USA -2 Nations separated by a common language (and a Science Curriculum !)

Take a look inside …………..

The English National Curriculum 5-16

PrimaryAge 5 -7 (Infant or Key Stage 1) Report levelsAge 7-11 (Junior or Key Stage 2) National tests

SecondaryAge 11-14 (Key Stage 3) Report levelsAge 14-16 (Key Stage 4) GCSEAge 16-18 (Sixth Form ..unofficially KS 5) A/AS

England & Wales -Science National Curriculum

Four attainment targets:

• Sc1 Scientific Enquiry (Inquiry !)• Sc2 Life processes & living things (Biology)• Sc3 Materials & their properties (Chemistry)• Sc4 Physical processes (Physics)

National Curriculum Levels

• Scale of 1 – 10

• Expectations for the average student:

• KS1 2• KS2 3• KS3 5• KS4 7

Sc1 - The Nature of Science

• Ideas and Evidence.• Investigative skills.

Plan Obtain evidence Analyze Evaluate

P O A E

Sc1 Levels POAE

And someone will say……………………….STOP! They will try to derail you with one of these….

• You are not following The Scientific Method• But there’s no Practical Work• Which is the Independent Variable ?• You need to do a Complete Investigation• You don’t have enough time in one lesson• You must state the hypothesis at the

beginning !

And you will say…..Inquiry?

Because……………….

• If you are doing any of these:

• Planning• Obtaining evidence• Analyzing• Evaluating

• Then you are doing Inquiry !

And don’t worry………………….

• All practical work doesn’t need to be inquiry!• All inquiry doesn’t need to be practical! !• You don’t need a complete investigation!!!

National Science Teachers Association NSTA Position Statement Scientific Inquiry

The National Science Education Standards defines scientific inquiry as “the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work.

Scientific inquiry also refers to the activities through which students develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists study the natural world.”

Hot Chocolate

Does the color of a delivery van affect the temperature inside the van ?

A really good idea……………….

Not such a good idea…………….

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

Elephant Ears

African elephant Indian elephant

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

Factors affecting photosynthesis

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

What happens if you microwave a bar of Ivory soap ?

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

Investigating Pepsi & Mentos

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

Immobilized Enzymes

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

Buttered Toast

English toast in a toastrack ! American toast

Grading

P O A EPlanObtain evidenceAnalyzeEvaluate

Follow Alice……..

•P*** (Push !)•Off•And•Experiment !

Welcome to Wonderland!