CIEC were well represented at the recent Primary Science
Conference held at NSLC, York at the end of June.
Joy Parvin, CIEC Director, was present with two of the CIEC
Advisory teachers, Jane Winter and Nicky Waller.
Jane
Winter’s session – Science in the Outdoor Classroom – was very popular with the
delegates. More than 20 teachers explored ways to use the outside environment
to enthuse children about science. Activities included investigating
natural materials and man-made fabrics to find which were suitable to make fairy
houses, parachutes and rafts and building a science den out of bamboo canes.
Nicky Waller gave a workshop
entitled 'Exciting
Science Activities for EYFS and KS1'. Once again the audience were very
receptive to all Nicky’s ideas for activities as they were very simple, covered
basic science concepts and easy for the non-specialist primary school teacher
to carry out with the very youngest scientists in school and help develop
children's questioning and observation skills.
The
teachers particularly liked ideas for making fossilized dinosaur eggs
to hide around the school grounds and then go hunting like palaeontologists in
order to carefully uncover what is hiding inside! Another favourite was the
variation on the Crafty Crow Aesop's fable whereby children have to help Sylvia
the bird reach the water inside the jam jar so that she can have a drink after
a long and thirsty flight!
Nicky also gave the
plenary keynote address - she outlines her theme below.
“The initial title was 'Putting the
wow into working scientifically' until I redrafted the title during the actual
session to ensure that my message was clear. The new title then read 'Keeping
the wow in Working Scientifically' to ensure that teachers are not just using
wow science activities shared at conferences, websites, YouTube etc. whereby
you have that 'wow' moment with the children but then nothing much more than that.
It is crucial that, with every and any science activity we share with the
children, the most important aspect of the planning phase is to think carefully
about what will the children be able to know, understand or do as a result of
this activity and then plan forwards from this point. The way in which we keep
this going week after week in all our science lessons is to start with the
statutory requirements of the National Curriculum and build from there,
ensuring that the skills of working scientifically are deeply embedded in
everything we teach. I believe, it is only by doing this that we are allowing
the children we teach to become the most super scientists they possibly can be.
In the
session, I shared my interpretation of the classic 'kid friendly elephant's
toothpaste' activity using an imaginative story about a wise, well-loved King
and clever little scientist named Pip who astounded the entire kingdom. We also
heard about Clever Colin who made a simple magnifying glass to help the wizard
read his magic spells (we even cracked some tiny codes too!) as well as taking
part in measuring exercises, the Curly Wurly stretching world record and
discovering a way to make giant gummy bears whilst learning about absorption.
Finally,
every participant was given a copy of CIEC's new Progression in Working Scientifically from EYFS to Key Stage 3
booklet. Copies of this can be downloaded free from our website.”
An animated Nicky at her plenary session
Joy felt the day
had been extremely successful, ‘The annual Primary Science conference is a
great place for primary teachers to meet up, exchange good practice and go home
full of new ideas. And I’m sure Nicky and Jane gave them plenty of material for
next year!’
