Primary PGCE Science (2020-2021)

Primary PGCE Science
2020-2021

Welcome

Science is one of the core subjects in the Primary National Curriculum. In most schools it will be taught every week and it covers a range of subjects from Humans and other animals to Space. We have seen in the last few months how important it is to have an understanding of science and Working Scientifically is at the heart of the science curriculum. The syllabus for the UoH PGCE science programme is built around eight key questions:

- What is Science in the primary school?
- What does it mean to investigate in science?
- How does science progress from EYFS to Year Six?
- How do we plan to teach science?
- What ways are there of teaching science?
- How do we assess the teaching or science?
- How do we resource science?
- What supports teaching of science in the wider curriculum?

Ways of working

The first part of the course will be taught via online and remote methods - this is not ideal but these are unusual times. The core subjects, including science, will have focus days. The day will change but there will be a structure for these days (see later in this booklet).

You will working in various ways across the year ...

You'll be accessing online lectures and seminars - working (virtually) with the whole cohort.

You'll be working remotely with a small group of colleagues

You'll be working remotely at home on tasks and activities - check the home equipment list!

And of course you'll have reading and note-taking

What is science?

There are two interlinked elements to science - scientific knowledge and working scientifically. Both of these are important and we look for children's progression in each. There are four key areas in 'working scientifically'.

Asking Questions

Children will ask questions about the world and use questions provided by the teacher. These questions should be rooted in their scientific knowledge.

Observing

Children will look at the world around them, which will inform their questions. They will use all their senses and technology to support their observations. They will use their science knowledge.

Planning & carrying out investigations

Children will carry out investigations - ones they plan themselves or ones planned by their teacher. They will use the other skills to develop and build their science knowledge.

Recording and Analysing data

Children will collect data/evidence from their observations and investigations. They will use technology and analyse this data to draw conclusions about the world.

The Science Curriculum

Whilst you can cover more than the content of the Early Years Foundation Stage (2017) and/or the National Curriculum (2013) below are areas suggested for each Key Stage.

EYFS: Three of the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) are relevant to science: People and Communities (ELG 13), The World (ELG 14) and Technology (ELG 15). For more on this see the support website.

Key Stage One: Children should explore Plants (Y1/Y2), Animals including humans (Y1/Y2), Living things and their habitats (Y2), Everyday materials (Y1/Y2) and Seasonal Changes (Y1).

Key Stage Two: Children should explore Plants (Y3), Animals including humans (Y3-Y6), Living things and their habitats (Y4-Y6), Evolution and Inheritance (Y6), Rocks (Y3), Properties of materials (Y5), Light (Y4/Y6), Sound (Y4), Forces and Magnets (Y3, Y5) Electricity (Y5) and Electricity (Y4/Y6).

The core questions

The science course this year is built around some key questions (see the graphic below) rooted in the idea that teaching involves both content knowledge (the stuff) and pedagogic knowledge (the how) [Shulman, 1986]. We will build the input more around the pedagogic knowledge and you will need to audit and work on your own content knowledge with the support provided.