1

Beyond Fair Testing Beyond Fair Testing Scientific Enquiry Scientific Enquiry

GamesGames

Beyond Fair Testing Beyond Fair Testing Scientific Enquiry Scientific Enquiry

GamesGamesBob PonchaudBob Ponchaud

Anne GoldsworthyAnne Goldsworthy

www.annegoldsworthy.co.ukwww.annegoldsworthy.co.uk

2

Why Enquiry Games?Our philosophy

• Whatever happens to the curriculum, enquiry remains at the heart of science at all key stages.

• It is vital that the skills of enquiry are developed in a planned way.

• Learning these skills should be enjoyable not just routine.

• Games have proved highly successful for developing and reviewing skills.

3

It all starts with questions … so practice asking

questions• Spin both spinners• Ask a question using that question starter

and the objects• Now choose from your questions

One that you can test safely in the classroom One that you could researchOne that made you laugh

Thanks to Kate Blacklock and Debbie Eccles for this idea

Part of suggestions for a KS 1 Science Enquiry Games Book

4

Key questions• What kind of enquiry do we use?• How can I choose my variables?• What equipment should I use?• Why do we repeat readings?• How can we do science safely? • What are

reliability?..accuracy?..validity?• What do tables tell us?• How can graphs help us?• What does the evidence tell us?

5

The Games• Planning Posers• Fair Test Scramble• Getting the gear • Repeat Readings Rumble• Safer Science• Vocabulary Bingo• Table Talk• Build a graph• News or Views

6

What’s new at Key Stage 3?

• The activities contribute to two of the three ‘key processes’ strands:

Practical and enquiry skills;Critical understanding of evidence.

• Several of the activities have been tried and tested at key stage 2 but others,such as ‘News or Views’ are new and focus on HSW.

• We may all agree that ‘assessing risk’ and ‘evaluating evidence’ are important – but how do you make them fun? We hope we have provided some answers!

7

Now let’s play….

• News or views/Safer Science• Repeat readings rumble

8

The Publication

• Rationale and aims explained• All materials provided for you to print off –

hard copy and CD formats.• Several versions of the same game eg

whole class, small group or plenary versions (iwb)

• Additional back-up activities to reinforce • Step by step instructions – illustrated• Tried with teachers

9

• Published any day now• From Millgate House Publications• www.millgatehouse.co.uk• Expressions of interest forms – please

complete and leave with Millgate House