P3 Science Briefing
School-Based Approach to
Teaching of Science
Friday 7 April 2017
OVERVIEW
Introduction to
Primary
Science
Syllabus
School-Based
Approach to
Teaching of
Science
Q&A
Primary Science Syllabus
Aims to:
• provide with experiences which build on their interest in and stimulate their curiosity
about their environment
• provide students with basic scientific terms and concepts to help them understand
themselves and the world around them
• provide students with opportunities to develop skills, habits of mind and attitudes
necessary for scientific inquiry
• prepare students towards using scientific knowledge and methods in making
personal decisions
• help students appreciate how science influences people and the environment
2014 Primary Science Syllabus
• Science as an inquiry
• Student as an inquirer
• Teacher as leader of
inquiry
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/scie
nces/files/science-primary-2014.pdf
Knowledge, Understanding & Application
Diversity
Interactions
Five
Cycles
Themes
Energy
Systems
Knowledge, Understanding & Application
Skills and Processes
Traditional Teaching
Inquiry Based Learning (IBL)
5E Instructional Model
Engage
Evaluate
Elaborate
Explore
Explain
5E Instructional Model
Engage
Things Around Us
Observing,
Comparing,
Classifying
• Walk around the school compound
• List the things they see into three different
groups (Living Things/ Non-Living Things/ Not
sure)
• See-Think-Wonder (Thinking Routine)
5E Instructional Model
Engage
Things Around Us
Observing,
Comparing,
Classifying
5E Instructional Model
Explore
What do Living Things Need?
Comparing,
Classifying,
Communicating,
Inferring
• Group discussions
• Write down their ideas about the needs of living things
are:
Food is given /
Food is made
Air is given
Water is given
Grasshopper
Lived
Lived
Lived
Book
No change
No change
No change
5E Instructional Model
Explain
Plants and Animals
• Pair work
• Classify the cards into plants and animals based on
handout
• Make a list of characteristics that they can use to
decide if something is a plant or an animal
• Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
5E Instructional Model
Explain
Plants and Animals
5E Instructional Model
Elaborate What are These?
• Pair work
• Classify Bacteria and Fungi based on 2 reports
• Students to gather evidence from the reports and
explain why bacteria and fungi are living things.
• What Makes You Say That? (Thinking Routine)
5E Instructional Model
Elaborate What are These?
5E Instructional Model
Evaluate
Sort me out!
• Pair work
• Classify the living things based on the picture cards
• Self-Evaluation using rubrics
5E Instructional Model
Sort me out!
• Classify …
Evaluate
5E Instructional Model
Sort me out!
Evaluate
Answering Skills
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•
Read the question carefully
Underline key words & understand the question
Look at ALL options*
Eliminate the least possible answers
Decide on the answer
Answering Skills
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•
•
•
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•
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Read the question carefully
Underline key words
Analyse data/ information in tables/ graphs (be systematic)
Understand what the question is asking
Recall: Which topic? What concept?
List concept words. What key concept words?
Write answer statement.
Check (S.A.R). Is your answer Specific, Accurate, Relevant/in the
Right context?
Online Resources
1. Discovery Kids
2. Science Kids
3. The Naked Scientists
4. Science News for Kids
5. Bill Nye The Science Guy
6. Steve Spangler Science
7. Make Me Genius
8. Studyjams
Science Magazines
1. Science Spy/ Singapore Scientist
2. National Geographic Kids
3.The Young Scientists
4. Science Adventures
5. Kids Discover