Back to School: Secondary Science

This is a back to school activity for science teachers to use when setting out expectations for the term ahead. The worksheet can be used with a brand new class after the summer holidays, or with a class returning to you after a shorter school break. The aim of the sheet is to help facilitate a good start to a new term- in both behaviour and effort.

This activity is designed to be accompanied by teacher- led discussion.

The sheet asks students to consider class rules and what makes a good science lesson. There is opportunity to introduce some paired discussion at this point if you wish.

Students are asked to reflect on their work from the previous term, such as before the summer holiday or even from a previous school, and then asked to consider what they could change, keep the same or keep a measure of in order to progress further.

The sheet is set out in headings following the scientific method and therefore also reminds students of the meanings of terms such as independent variable, dependent variable and control variable.

The conclusion section at the end of the sheet is left open- ended. Teachers could ask students to state what they have found out about themselves, state what they are looking forward to this term, or ask a question of their teacher, for example.

Please feel free to edit to suit your own needs.