Teachers TV: Practically Science

Sally Crowe, Year 5 teacher and Best Practice Manager at Latchmere Primary School in Kingston upon Thames, is also the Primary Science AST for the local borough. Sally is taking a Year 4 class in which pupils will be investigating separating various solids and solutions. By providing groups with an overall objective, she allows the pupils to plan and conduct the investigation, including deciding their own individual roles and responsibilities, methods and techniques.

Sally explains and demonstrates throughout the lesson how potentially complicated science lessons shouldn’t be avoided and in fact it’s important to allow the pupils to take the responsibility for investigation, from the planning and designing stage to the practical hands-on element. By providing the pupils with structure and roles, Sally’s lesson demonstrates how pupils can work successfully with minimal teacher support and input.