P6 SCIENCE CURRICULUM BRIEFING 4 FEBRUARY 2015

Agenda

Department vision and Science Curriculum

School’s support in our pupils’ learning

Parents’ support for your child

To nurture and develop every HGS girl with an inquiring mind for Science

HGS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT VISION

Science Curriculum Framework by MOE

Using Science Inquiry Approach

Process Skills

Skills Lower Block (P3 & 4) Upper Block

(P5 & 6)

Observing

Comparing

Classifying

Using apparatus and equipment

Communicating (Verbal, Pictorial)

Communicating (Tabular)

Communicating (Graphical)

Inferring

Predicting

Analysing

Generating Possibilities

Evaluating

Formulating hypothesis

Processes Lower Block (P3 & 4) Upper Block

(P5 & 6)

Creative Problem Solving

Decision-Making

Investigation

Reference : Science PSLE Revision Guide Pages 296-337 for process skills elaboration.

Theme Lower Block (P3 & 4) Upper Block (P5 & 6)

DIVERSITY • Diversity of living and non-

living things

• Diversity of materials

CYCLES •Cycles in plants and

animals (Life cycles)

•Cycles in matter

•Cycles in plants and

animals (Reproduction)

•Cycles in water

SYSTEMS •Plant system (plant parts

and functions)

•Human system (Digestive

system)

•Plant system (Respiratory and

circulatory systems)

•Human system (Respiratory and

circulatory systems)

•Cell system

•Electrical system

INTERACTIONS •Interaction of forces

(Magnets)

•Interaction of forces

(Frictional force, gravitational

force, force in springs)

•Interaction within the

environment

ENERGY •Energy forms and uses

(Light and heat)

•Energy forms and uses

(Photosynthesis)

• Energy conversion Topics which are underlined are not required for students taking Foundation Science.

Organisation of Syllabus

• Concept Maps

• Classroom Questioning

• APRICOT (use of whiteboard)

• 4-in-1 Formative Assessment Student Tool (FAST)-

kit

• Teacher’s observation and marking

• Reflection

• Science Journal

• Worksheets and activity books

• mconline

• Science Practical / Hands-on Experiments

Formative Assessment :

Holistic Assessment Overview : Science (P6)

AfL & non-weighted AoL Term 1 Term 2 (SA1) Term 3 Term 4 (SA2)

Science Practice Mastery worksheets

Review worksheets

Process Skills worksheets

Activity Book

Mastery worksheets

Review worksheets

Process Skills worksheets

Activity Book

Mastery worksheets

Review worksheets

Process Skills worksheets

Activity Book

Mastery worksheets

Review worksheets

Process Skills worksheets

Activity Book

Performance task / Practical Practical work - Use of

scientific skills / process

skills & scientific

instruments and apparatus

to conduct simple tasks /

experiments.

Practical work - Use of

scientific skills / process skills

& scientific instruments and

apparatus to conduct simple

tasks / experiments.

Practical work - Use of

scientific skills / process skills

& scientific instruments and

apparatus to conduct simple

tasks / experiments.

Practical work - Use of

scientific skills / process skills

& scientific instruments and

apparatus to conduct simple

tasks / experiments.

Review Exercise Mock Test (100 marks) Practice paper Practice paper Practice paper

Weighted AoL

Performance tasks

Mid-year Assessment – SA1 SA1 (30%) 100 marks

End-of-year Assessment – SA2 Prelim (70%) 100 marks

Total Weighting 0% 30% 70%

Booklet Item

Type

No of

questions

No of

marks per

question

Weighting

A Multiple

choice

30 2 60%

B Open-

ended

14 2,3,4 40%

Duration of paper – 1h 45 min

PSLE Science Examination Format

PSLE Foundation Science

Examination Format

Booklet Item Type No of

Qns

No of

Marks per

qn

Marks

A Multiple-

choice

16 2 32

B Structured

Open-ended

6-7

6-8

2-3

2-4

14

24

Duration of paper 1h 15 min

Agenda

Department vision and Science Curriculum

School’s support in our pupils’ learning

Parents’ support for your child

School’s Support in our Pupils’ Learning School laboratories

Resources for hands-on activities

Outdoor learning environment / Learning Journeys

Use of ICT (multimedia / mconline / virtual experiments)

D3T2 Science (P4, 5 and 6) / Remedial or stretched

classes

Science Games @ Recess

(Every Friday during both recesses, starting Feb 2015)

Science Magazines available for browsing in school library and books for loan for enrichment.

Encourage pupils to participate in ICAS Science, subscription of magazine and self-directed learning through the activities in Young Scientist Cards.

School’s Support in our Pupils’ Learning

Use of innovative pedagogies to engage our pupils (Knowledge building, Knowledge Forum, Drama in

Science, Assessment for Learning strategies)

School’s Support in our Pupils’ Learning

Drama in Science

Use of ICT

Co-operative strategies

Use of APRICOT to assess pupils’ learning

Use of strategies (in answering MCQ and OE)

Explicit teaching of skills to use when answering

open ended questions

(Reference : PSLE Guide Pages 341-342 for more details)

Keywords

What should you do?

Skill(s) tested

Classify Find out the characteristics of the objects given.

Arrange the items in groups according to similar

characteristics that they share.

Classifying

Draw Draw clearly. Make sure the lines are clean and not

messy.

Communicating

State Answer the question directly and briefly. Need not

explain.

Analysing

Explain Require a more elaborate answer giving the reason

and the explanation.

Generating

possibilities

School’s Support in our Pupils’ Learning

Educate our pupils in time management. Good Time Management is Important! For Standard Science : (1h 45 min)

BOOKLET A

30 MCQ Average Time spent for each Question

Total Time spent (1 hr)

60 marks 2 marks each 30 x 2 min 60 min

BOOKLET B 14 OE Average Time spent for each Question

Total Time spent (45 mins)

40 marks 2/3/4 m 14 x 3 min 42 min (3 mins left to be spent

on more difficult qns/checking)

School’s Support in our Pupils’ Learning

Educate our pupils in time management. Good Time Management is Important! For Foundation Science : (1hr 15 min)

BOOKLET A

16 MCQ Average Time spent for each Question

Total Time spent (32 min)

32 marks 2 marks each 16 x 2 min 32 min

BOOKLET B 6-7 Structured 6-8 OE

Average Time spent for each Question

Total Time spent (38 mins)

38 marks Structured OE

2 x 7 = 14 min 3 x 8 = 24 min

38 min (5 mins left to be spent

on more difficult qns/checking)

School’s Support in our Pupils’ Learning

Agenda

Department vision and Science Curriculum

School’s support in our pupils’ learning

Parents’ support for the child

Parents’ Support for Your Child Check your child’s handbook to assist in monitoring homework / corrections / signing of returned work

Stimulate your child’s interest in Science NOT just by doing a lot of assessment books / other school papers. There are interesting shows on OKTO and other TV channels or interesting news articles that allow them to learn Science in a more engaging manner.

There are online work assignments / research given at times, support your child’s online learning (with supervision).

Useful links in HGS website for parents / students

Reference book - Science PSLE Revision Guide with useful notes and tips.

Parents’ Support for Your Child

Have a great day!