Primary Science For Teaching Assistants

Primary Science for Teaching Assistants Also available: Primary Mathematics for Teaching Assistants Sylvia Edwards 1–84312–428–9 Primary ICT for Teaching Assistants John Galloway 1–84312–446–7 ICT for Teaching Assistants John Galloway 1–84312–203–0 Primary Science for Teaching Assistants Rosemary Feasey First published 2007 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2008. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 2007 Rosemary Feasey All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been applied for. ISBN 0-203-93179-3 Master e-book ISBN ISBN10 1–84312–447–5 (pbk) ISBN13 978–1–84312–447–4 (pbk) Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1 What is primary science? Why science is an important subject in the curriculum How scientists think and work How children think and work scientifically How can the teaching assistant support primary science? vii 1 3 3 6 6 8 2 Lesson planning Schemes of work Lesson plans The teaching assistant’s role in the science lesson 10 10 11 18 3 Effective questioning Why questioning is important in science Questioning and the science curriculum Different kinds of questions Using scientific language in questions Creating an effective questioning environment 20 20 22 22 25 26 4 Supporting practical work Supporting learning before the lesson Supporting learning during the lesson Managing behaviour 29 29 30 34 5 Developing children’s ideas in science What are scientific concepts? How teachers find out what children know How to support the development of children’s ideas in science 38 38 38 43 6 Using scientific language Language in science Spelling strategies from literacy Children’s experience of scientific vocabulary Children’s writing about science 45 45 46 47 48 v Primary Science for Teaching Assistants 7 Recording and communicating The challenges of supporting recording and communication in science Different approaches to recording and communicating in science Planning to support recording and communication 53 53 54 61 8 Using equipment and resources Developing children’s independence in using science equipment Ensuring health and safety Key science equipment 63 63 64 66 Bibliography Index vi 72 73 Acknowledgements I am inde