Primary science teachers get their hands dirty and make a stink

 

From mummifying a tomato to cleaning up the Thames, Teachers TV online looks at a radical new approach to science teaching.

 

As part of a new primary science series focusing on novel ways to help teachers assess pupil progress (APP), continuing professional development trainer Deborah Herridge, introduces teachers to the delights of bringing practical science investigations into the classroom.

 

In the first of two videos, Deborah looks at ‘Mummification’ and devises a simple experiment with a tomato to get pupils investigating and measuring change. Using the ancient Egyptian method of body preservation, the teachers are then shown practical models on how to get across great ideas.

 

Deborah said: “I wanted to give teachers something that showed not only how an investigation would work, but also how it can stand alone as a really good science experiment that fits into any particular topic.”

 

In the ‘The Big Stink’, Deborah takes teachers back to Victorian England and challenges them to clean up a polluted Thames.  Using everyday ingredients to create a sewage substitute, she shows them how introducing fun exercises into the classroom can help with assessing pupil progress. She also encourages pupils to think about how they can look after the world they live in.

 

As one teacher comments: “It is much more interesting than just looking in books all the time.  It’s really practical and hands on with cross-curricular links, which is great - the children will absolutely love it.”

 

Both videos entitled Inspirational CPD training: APP for primary science will be available to view online from Friday 8 October 2010 at:  www.teachers.tv

 

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