"Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and he calls adventure Science. "

 

- Edwin Powell Hubble

/ JUNIOR SCIENCE IN ST. MALACHY'S

Junior Science is taught by thirteen teachers, in eleven laboratories, located in C, D and E blocks. A complete refurbishment of six of these laboratories took place in 2015.

 

Teaching staff from the three Science Departments teach junior classes: currently, where possible, one teacher takes a class from Y8 to Year 10, and the topics are a balance of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

 

There are three full time technicians in Science, all of whom have responsibilities within KS3 as well as individual departments:

/ TEACHING STAFF

/ TECNNICIAN STAFF

Mr V Watts

Mrs C McFall

Mrs F Conroy

• The acquisition of knowledge and understanding of a range of scientific concepts, generalisations, principles and laws through the systematic study and experience of aspects of the body of knowledge called science.

 

• The acquisition of a range of cognitive and psycho-motor skills and processes as a result of direct involvement in scientific activities and procedures in the laboratory.

 

• The utilisation of scientific knowledge and processes in the pursuit of further knowledge and deeper understanding, and the development of an ability to function autonomously in an area of science studies to solve practical problems and to communicate that experience to others.

 

• The attainment of a perspective or way of looking at the world together with some understanding of how it complements and contrasts with other perspectives or ways of organising knowledge and inquiry.

 

• The attainment of a basic understanding of the nature of advanced technological societies, the interaction between science and society, and the contribution science makes to our cultural heritage.

 

• The realisation that scientific knowledge and experience is of some value in the process of establishing a sense of personal and social identity.

 

• Teachers try, where possible, to have practically based lessons with emphasis on safety, and where possible allow students to develop planning and evaluative skills. Throughout the age range pupils should be encouraged to make use of information technology. They should be encouraged to record work in their own words, and to develop library skills.

 

• Finally, teachers focus on the idea that we are teaching children to understand and enjoy Science.

/ TOPICS

• Forces

• Matter

• Food and Digestion

• Earth and Space

• Plants at Work

• Chemical Reactions

/ HOW HE WILL BE ASSESSED

• notebook will be marked: this will contribute to both reports during the academic year

• end of topic tests: two of these will contribute to both reports during the academic year

• formative assessment tasks during the year: one of these will contribute to the grade on the first report

• formative assessment will also include a variety of oral questions and CASE investigations to develop thinking skills

/ SKILLS YOUR SON WILL BE DEVELOPING

• recognising hazards and safety symbols

• working safely in a science laboratory, including lighting a Bunsen burner, safe heating of solids or solutions

• manipulative skills

• the ability to work as an individual, in pairs or in small groups

• collation of data

• analysis of data

• evaluate evidence from an experiment

• use the planning loop to plan, carry out, and evaluate an investigation

• the correct way to write up scientific investigations

• communicate the outcomes of an experiment or investigation, using IT where appropriate

• application of number

• drawing and interpreting graphs

/ HOW YOU CAN HELP