What is Science?What is Science?

sci·encesci·ence (sī (sī''əns) əns) n.n.

The observation, identification, description, experimental The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena. investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.

Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.

Methodological activity, discipline, or study: Methodological activity, discipline, or study: I've got I've got packing a suitcase down to a science.packing a suitcase down to a science.

An activity that appears to require study and method: An activity that appears to require study and method: the the science of purchasing.science of purchasing.

Knowledge, especially that gained through experience. Knowledge, especially that gained through experience. [Middle English, knowledge, learning, from Old French, [Middle English, knowledge, learning, from Old French,

from Latin from Latin scientiascientia, from , from sciēns, scient-sciēns, scient-, present , present participle of participle of scīrescīre, to know.], to know.]

Science involves more than the gaining Science involves more than the gaining of knowledge. It is the systematic and of knowledge. It is the systematic and organized inquiry into the natural world organized inquiry into the natural world and its phenomena. Science is about and its phenomena. Science is about gaining a deeper and often useful gaining a deeper and often useful understanding of the world.understanding of the world.

from the Multicultural History of Science from the Multicultural History of Science page at Vanderbilt Universitypage at Vanderbilt University

Science is an intellectual activity carried on Science is an intellectual activity carried on by humans that is designed to discover by humans that is designed to discover information about the natural world in which information about the natural world in which humans live and to discover the ways in humans live and to discover the ways in which this information can be organized into which this information can be organized into meaningful patterns. A primary aim of meaningful patterns. A primary aim of science is to collect facts (data). An ultimate science is to collect facts (data). An ultimate purpose of science is to discern the order purpose of science is to discern the order that exists between and amongst the various that exists between and amongst the various facts. facts.

Dr. Sheldon Gottlieb in a lecture series at the Dr. Sheldon Gottlieb in a lecture series at the University of South Alabama University of South Alabama

Science isScience is1. the systematic observation of natural events 1. the systematic observation of natural events

and conditions in order to discover facts and conditions in order to discover facts about them and to formulate laws and about them and to formulate laws and principles based on these facts. principles based on these facts.

2. the organized body of knowledge that is 2. the organized body of knowledge that is derived from such observations and that can derived from such observations and that can be verified or tested by further investigation. be verified or tested by further investigation.

3. any specific branch of this general body of 3. any specific branch of this general body of knowledge, such as biology, physics, knowledge, such as biology, physics, geology, or astronomy.geology, or astronomy.

Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Academic Press Dictionary of Science and TechnologyTechnology

Science does not tell us everything that Science does not tell us everything that we want to know about life, or all we we want to know about life, or all we need to know. But it does provide us need to know. But it does provide us with the most robust information about with the most robust information about the way the universe works that has so the way the universe works that has so far become available to us.far become available to us.

Colin Tudge, Science WriterColin Tudge, Science Writer

Science is valuable because it meshes Science is valuable because it meshes with all our lives and allows us to with all our lives and allows us to channel and use our spontaneous channel and use our spontaneous curiosity.curiosity.

Professor Susan Greenfield, Director, Professor Susan Greenfield, Director, Royal InstitutionRoyal Institution

Studying Science teaches us to be Studying Science teaches us to be good at analysis and helps us to make good at analysis and helps us to make complex things simple. It trains our complex things simple. It trains our minds in a way that industry prizes.minds in a way that industry prizes.

Brendan O’Neill, Chief Executive, Imperial Brendan O’Neill, Chief Executive, Imperial Chemical Industries plc Chemical Industries plc

Science is an integral part of modern Science is an integral part of modern culture. It stretches the imagination culture. It stretches the imagination and creativity of young people. Its and creativity of young people. Its challenges are quite enormous.challenges are quite enormous.

Professor Malcolm Longair, Institute of Professor Malcolm Longair, Institute of Physics Fellow in Public Understanding of Physics Fellow in Public Understanding of Physics, Head of Cavendish Laboratory, Physics, Head of Cavendish Laboratory, University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge

Have you heard this one?Have you heard this one?

          A carpenter, a A carpenter, a school teacher, and a school teacher, and a scientist were travelling scientist were travelling by train through by train through Scotland when they Scotland when they saw a black sheep saw a black sheep through the window of through the window of the train. the train.

            

"Aha," said the "Aha," said the carpenter with a carpenter with a smile, "I see that smile, "I see that Scottish sheep are Scottish sheep are black." black."

"Hmm," said the "Hmm," said the school teacher, school teacher, "You mean that "You mean that some Scottish some Scottish sheep are black." sheep are black."

      "No," said the "No," said the scientist, "All we scientist, "All we know is that there is know is that there is at least one sheep in at least one sheep in Scotland, and that at Scotland, and that at least one side of least one side of that one sheep is that one sheep is black."black."

Your own definition Your own definition

of Scienceof Science

Science is one of the core Science is one of the core National Curriculum National Curriculum

SubjectsSubjects

Scientific concepts, Scientific concepts,

skills and attitudesskills and attitudes

Science is not just a catalogue of facts. Science is not just a catalogue of facts. More important than any individual More important than any individual piece of knowledge is the sense we piece of knowledge is the sense we make of the ideas of Science. A make of the ideas of Science. A concept is a mental construct that concept is a mental construct that holds ideas together and may help to holds ideas together and may help to explain a particular phenomenon.explain a particular phenomenon.

The sun rises in the eastThe sun rises in the east

The sun moves across the sky and sets The sun moves across the sky and sets in the westin the west

It is night in Australia when it is day in It is night in Australia when it is day in BritainBritain

The stars rise in the east and set in the The stars rise in the east and set in the westwest

Vessel to be filledVessel to be filled

VV

Active learningActive learning

I hear and I forget.I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.I see and I remember.

I do and I get more confused.I do and I get more confused.

Separating Separating

shiny 1p and 2p coins shiny 1p and 2p coins

from dull ones from dull ones

without looking!without looking!

Did you make any predictions?Did you make any predictions?

What did you observe?What did you observe?

What hypotheses did you come up with?What hypotheses did you come up with?

If you had less experience of the world, what If you had less experience of the world, what conclusions might you have made?conclusions might you have made?

As a teacher, what activity/activities could As a teacher, what activity/activities could you set up for the children so that they could you set up for the children so that they could find out more for themselves?find out more for themselves?

Ip CoinIp Coin

Diameter: Diameter: 20.3mm20.3mm

Weight: Weight: 3.56grms3.56grmsThickness:Thickness: 1.52mm - bronze1.52mm - bronze 1.65mm - copper-plated steel1.65mm - copper-plated steel

CompositionComposition Bronze 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin (until Bronze 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin (until

September 1992)September 1992) Copper-plated steel (since September 1992)Copper-plated steel (since September 1992)

2p Coin2p Coin

Diameter: Diameter: 25.9mm25.9mmWeight: Weight: 7.12grms7.12grmsThickness:Thickness: 1.85mm - bronze1.85mm - bronze 2.03mm - copper-plated steel2.03mm - copper-plated steel

CompositionComposition Bronze 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin (until Bronze 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin (until

September 1992)September 1992) Copper-plated steel (since September 1992 Copper-plated steel (since September 1992

except in 1998 when the 2p was made in both except in 1998 when the 2p was made in both alloys)alloys)

Scientific Process SkillsScientific Process Skills

ObservationObservation Raising questionsRaising questions HypothesisingHypothesising PredictingPredicting Planning and conducting investigationsPlanning and conducting investigations InterpretingInterpreting CommunicationCommunication

Scientific attitudesScientific attitudes

CuriosityCuriosity Respect for evidenceRespect for evidence Critical reflectionCritical reflection PerseverancePerseverance Creativity / inventivenessCreativity / inventiveness Open-mindednessOpen-mindedness SensitivitySensitivity CooperationCooperation

The Principal DocumentationThe Principal Documentation Foundation Stage CurriculumFoundation Stage Curriculum Knowledge and understanding of the WorldKnowledge and understanding of the World

National CurriculumNational Curriculum ScienceScience

QCA Schemes of WorkQCA Schemes of Work

ScienceScience

Personal Experience of SciencePersonal Experience of Science

Complete the short questionnaire to Complete the short questionnaire to give a brief outline of your personal give a brief outline of your personal experience and thoughts about experience and thoughts about science.science.

Share with a neighbour. Share with a neighbour.

Identifying and addressing Identifying and addressing personal strengths and personal strengths and

weaknessesweaknesses

Diagnostic test – coding your answers:Diagnostic test – coding your answers: M recall from memoryM recall from memory D deductionD deduction B bookB book I I internet internet A asked someoneA asked someone

Identifying and addressing Identifying and addressing personal strengths and personal strengths and

weaknessesweaknesses

Action PlanAction Plan Individual targets for self-studyIndividual targets for self-study To be submitted in Session 3To be submitted in Session 3 Tuesday 7Tuesday 7thth October October

The DTTP Science CourseThe DTTP Science Course

Course rationaleCourse rationale Science subject knowledge for QTSScience subject knowledge for QTS Assessment, assignment and tasksAssessment, assignment and tasks School based expectationsSchool based expectations Course readingCourse reading 9 main sessions9 main sessions Subject knowledge sessionsSubject knowledge sessions Action Plan reviewsAction Plan reviews

For next session – 23For next session – 23rdrd September September

Familiarise yourself with the National Curriculum for Familiarise yourself with the National Curriculum for Science.Science.

Bring your plans for ensuring that your subject Bring your plans for ensuring that your subject knowledge will be up to speed by the second subject knowledge will be up to speed by the second subject tutorials (31tutorials (31stst March 2009). March 2009).

Bring notes about your base school’s science Bring notes about your base school’s science policy.policy.

Read and make notes about children’s conceptual Read and make notes about children’s conceptual development in science. development in science.