Who are we?

•British Curriculum: GCSE and A Level•Co-educational•Approximately 850 Students on roll•Non-Selective•Not for Profit

Whole school approach to teaching and learning

.

How we get students to contextualize Science in

their everyday lives

How we get students to contextualize Science in

their everyday lives

What it means and why

Contexts and applications of science are used as the starting point for the development of scientific ideas.

Generate an interest in Science that can be translated into a desire to study Science related subjects post 16

What it means to students

More interested and motivated by the lesson experience

this increased engagement might result in improved learning.

Produces scientifically-literate citizens.Students become able to think and act appropriately

on scientific matters that may affect their lives and the lives of other members of the local, national and global communities in which they are a part.

Real-life problem-solving helps to prepare students for complex problems in the real world

What it means to staff

Wider range of teaching strategies (e.g. small-group, role-play, student presentations) than is normally possible with conventional science

Allows/encourages you to keep up to date with and relate to the latest scientific advances

The context………………………

Hello, and welcome to your forensic science work

placement. I’m Dr Sheryl, your mentor. Yes, that’s me. I can’t wait to

get started! I’ve seen lots of forensics on TV, but this is

the real thing…

Do you know what forensic

scientists do?

4

I’ve just received news of a major crime at an art

gallery

4

Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate

Activity from the Forensics unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science This page may have been changed from the original

Activity 1: Scene Setter

Which scientific concepts could you introduce using this

crime scene?

Solubility of

substances

Distillation (to check purity)

Chromatography (is it now

a fake?)

For example.

..

Learning Objective:

1. To explain what happens to particles in changes of state

How could this be

related?

Some of our students will

show you!

Using iodine to reveal fingerprints:

The Science……………………

2

Students are shown how iodine can be

used to show fingerprints

Student starts work with the forensic team, is assigned to a case and views the crime scene. Was the

painting tampered with?

Students consider how latent fingerprints on

the frame can be shown

Students try out using different substances

to show up latent fingerprints

Students explain how particles were used

to show up the fingerprints

Students learn about particles and

changes of state

• Mention what particles in solid iodine look like.

• Mention what particles in iodine gas look like (you can do this with diagrams).

• Explain why the solid iodine did not stick to the fingerprints, but it could when it was heated.

• Use the ideas of particles and energy to explain why the solid iodine changed when it was heated.

Science words to use: solid, gas, particles, sublimation.

Without particles, the thief would never have found the fingerprints.Explain

why.

4

The context………………

Activity 1: Gastro Heaven

Context approach

allows content to be

revisited from many

angles

Learning Objective:

1. To explain what happens to particles in changes of state

How could you revisit

particles in a ‘cook’ unit?

14

Now use my Perfect Ice Cream recipe sheet to

make ice cream and chocolate decorations

Ice Cream

Recipe100 ml milk

100 ml cream

50 ml sugar

2.5 ml vanilla

essence

5 Leave until the ice cream is ready or shake and squeeze the bag until the ice cream is ready.

1 Put the ice cream ingredients in a small plastic bag.

2 Tie up the opening with a wire fastener.

3 Put the small bag inside a large ziplock bag.

4 Add ice and salt to the large bag.

4

Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate

Ice crystals

Fat globules

Protein particles

Air bubbles

It’s all to do with particles

You can’t see them, but the texture of

ice cream depends on

them.

Activity 2: Making Ice Cream