STANSW Science Education News Journal 2019 2019 SEN Vol 68 Issue 1 | Page 67

YEARS 7–12 IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM Year 7 Practical Skills for Inquiry Learning (continued) In addition there are opportunities to discuss when and how to use each flame, which adds to their practical skills and the small experiments add to their manipulative skills. Science journal Using a Science Journal (or rough book) is mentioned in several places in these activities. It is a strategy worth trying not only with the junior classes, but with senior classes also. Extra safety precautions and new skills We now have some extra safety precautions to add to the SAFETY poster up on the wall (which needs continual updating). The students have also learned some new practical skills (again – need to keep an updated list?) and we constantly need to check that they are using these correctly. If students deliberately or persistently flout the ‘rules’ then they should lose their Bunsen burner licence for a while (which means they are not permitted to take part in any practical which uses one) and/or be excluded from doing any practical work for a period of time? The journal is a cheap, but thick, A4 exercise book that students bring to each science lesson. An important use is for jotting down observations and results during practical activities ‘at the time’. Using loose-leaf papers is not an option as the papers are too easily lost. The Journal can serve several other purposes: to record ideas, notes from discussions, drafts of experiments, research notes, questions to ask and subsequent answers etc. This means that they have a permanent record from which they write up their more formal notes or practicals or … They are particularly useful when working in co-operative groups if each group member needs to record the group results to share with others in the ‘expert group’ situation. We are aiming to get the students to work sensibly and safely in the lab as soon as possible and to work things out for themselves. Being very strict on the way they carry out their practical work from the start and resisting the temptation to tell them how to do it (except for correcting practical skills) will help reach this aim sooner? SAFETY • Bunsen must be on a heat mat The Journals can be useful when helping students to make their own notes. Teach them to note down key words or phrases when a class discussion is taking place and then use these to write a paragraph or two as a summary of the important ideas. The summary can go into their formal notes. It can also be used for drafting pieces of work e.g. practical ‘write ups’ which can then be discussed with a ‘critical friend’ and /or the teacher to look for ideas for improvement. This is useful early in the course when you are teaching them how to write up experiments; draw accurate diagrams; write a discussion; analyse some information etc. NEW PRACTICAL SKILLS When lighting • Hold the match to the side of the BB barrel – air hole closed • Light match before turning on gas • Strike match away from you The Journal is not intended for awarding marks but can be useful for some simple formative assessment tasks (which by definition should not award marks, grades or allow ranking of students). • Adjust air hole to get required flame • Apparatus which has been • Correct use of tongs heated should be put down • Understanding when to use onto the heat mat until it tongs rather than wooden has cooled ‘pegs’ • Turn Bunsen off (or onto safety flame) when not using (best to turn off to avoid ‘choking fumes’) The Journal can also be useful as a means of communication between the student and teacher. If the student wants a question answered, but does not want to raise it in class for example, it can be written in the Journal which can be handed in to the teacher who can then write a response – or raise it the following lesson. Similarly if a student needs extra help or has a request or a suggestion, it can be put in the Journal and given to the teacher. It allows you to communicate individually with each student at times when this may not be that easy and may give insight into a student’s literacy abilities, thinking skills, perseverance .... • Always being aware of the ‘state’ of the Bunsen burner Once students and teachers have become used to using Journals, they can be extremely useful teaching aids. 67 SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 1