BATH SCIENCE 5 - 16. KEY STAGE 1. Project co-directors Jeff Thompson and Martin Hollins. Project co-ordinator Malcolm Ward. By Noreen Wetton and Jenny McWhirter. Nelson. Teacher’s Resource Pack Pounds 39.95.- 0 17 423371 X.
Copymasters Pounds 27.50. - 017 423369 8.
Poster Pack Pounds 25+VAT - 0 17 423312 4.
Science Share Books.Pounds 240 17 423260 8.
Age range 5 - 7
Judith Glover reviews an activity based course forkey stage 1. The production team for Bath Science seems to have thought of everything in putting together this course. It should provide a sound base on which to build a key stage 1 science curriculum.
At the same time, it could easily be slotted into an existing programme of study either in its entirety or as individual components which would stand alone as excellent resources to fill in any gaps in existing schemes.
The course is activity based and arranged to match the three national curriculum themes of Life, Materials and Physical Processes. National curriculum cover is given on the first page of each topic. The themes are covered by 10 colour coded topics each divided into four units.
The comprehensive Teacher’s Resource Pack and attractive posters give plenty of ideas for beginning a topic by assessing the children’s current knowledge through discussion and observation. This is followed by suggestions for suitable questions leading to investigations.
An outline of the investigation activities along with resources needed and examples of children’s work are an asset for those who are hesitant about adopting a practical approach. Cross-curricular links and suitable children’s fiction to back up each unit are helpfully included.
Assessment opportunities are highlighted in coloured boxes and are easy to see at a glance. A summary of the unit’s contents and assessment opportunities linked to the revised national curriculum are included at the back of each topic book and found as a collection in the Assessment Guide. This, along with the co-ordinator section, giving an overview of the topics, “share books” and posters, will prove invaluable to the school’s science co-ordinator.
Two posters per topic allow the children an opportunity to ask and answer questions; again they could be used as stand alone material. Questions and information are on the back of the poster, ideal for use at a moment’s notice. Additional copies of the information are included.
Opportunities for differentiation are provided by copymasters, two per unit. The sheets are clear, interesting, scientifically accurate and not too busy. I liked the ” You could also . . .” section at the bottom of many of the sheets, useful for further activities or stretching the more able.
The share books vary in style, presentation and content. Designed for use with individuals or small groups, the clear instructions inside the cover help the adult involved to take an “observe and question” approach. This provides the potential for good school home links and may go some way towards alleviating the fears that some parents have of science, helping them to pass on a more positive attitude to their child.
This course, which follows the pattern of questioning, investigating, observing, recording and communicating, makes it easy for teachers with varied scientific backgrounds to take a practical approach to science.
Judith Glover is science co-ordinator at St Stephen’s CE Aided primary school, Burnley, Lancs
