Science Enquiry meeting a brilliant sucess

Brilliant Meeting at Riverside Primary School, Leicester

Yesterday a packed hall of over 70 teachers, students and educators met to discuss science enquiry. What heroes for turning up a Saturday morning, and in half term too, but not one of them would say on leaving that it wasn’t time well spent and that they left with lots of good and inspiring ideas.

Anne Goldsworthy was talking about Science enquiry and how to progress pupils by looking at individual skills, and playing games to work on improving aspects of enquiry. Ice bowls were linked with bar graphs, spinners were used to generate questions, teachers ran across the room racing each other playing fair test scramble, and much fun was had. As always Anne was inspirational, while being totally in touch with the realities of the classroom and a fund of ideas for fun and laughter. All teachers left with a free copy of the book, with copy write masters, and CD-ROM, so they can begin implementing the ideas as soon as they get back to schools. (Teachers also will receive an Impact Award for their school thanks to partnership with the Science Learning Centre in Leicester.)

Before Anne arrived a mini teechmeet had been organised and different people shared ideas for Wow experiments, good websites, sustainable schools, PSQM, how to use ASE chat (on twitter) and using it for CPD, using Google doc for collaborative writing, how to explain to pupils the nature of science and scientific evidence and the details of the New Be Safe book for all primaries ( is yours the most up to date/ if it does not have a yellow and purple cover you need to order at least one new copy!) Some more teechmeets re being organised so watch out for them in your area. (If you would like to host one at your school please contact your local field Officer Tanya at tanyadempster@ase.orguk ).

If you could not make the meeting the book can be purchased from ASE booksales.

Watch out for details of the next 2 meetings which will include an update on the new Ofsted framework and making Effective use of Teaching Assistants in Science lessons.

A big thank you to everyone who help organise the meeting, including Anne, who gave their time for free to enable such wonderful CPD to occur.