Department Vision & Mission Science Curriculum Framework Topics for P4 Level Programme Highlights Assessment Structure Exam Paper Format Holistic Assessment Tips for Parents Useful Websites Contact Details
VISION Passion for Science, Independent and lifelong learners MISSION to provide students with experiences which stimulate their curiosity about their environment. to provide students with opportunities to develop process skills and attitudes necessary for scientific inquiry to inspire life-long, independent learners who are passionate about Science.
Science Curriculum Framework What is scientific inquiry? Scientific inquiry may be defined as the activities and processes which scientists and students engage in to study the natural and physical world around us. Through inquiry learning, students will be able to: 1) Acquire knowledge and understanding of their natural and physical world based on investigations. 2) Apply the skills and processes of inquiry. 3) Develop attitudes and values that are essential to the practice of science.
Topics for P4 2016 Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Cycles 1. What is Matter Energy 1.Heat and Temperature Energy 1. Heat and Temperature 2. Innovation Week *Practical Test Cycles 1.Life Cycle of some Animals 2. Life Cycle of Plants Systems 3. Plants and their Parts (continued from Systems Activity book used in P3) *Performancebased Assessment Energy 1. Light and Shadows *Performancebased Assessment
Innovation Week Ice Cream Container Design (Term 2) Enrichment Programmes (Science Enrichment Heat & Temperature & Visit to Hydroponics Farm and Butterfly Lodge) Hydroponics Lessons (As part of Performance-Based PBA- Term 3)
Level P4 Component SA1 (35%) SA2 (65%) Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Weighting of SA1 Mock test (NW) NW: Non-weighted Component Weighting of SA1 Practical Test (20m) Written Paper (80m) 100% Component Mock test PBA Hydropo nics (20m) Weighting of SA2 (NW) 10% Component PBA Light (20m) Written Paper (100m) Weighting of SA2 10% 80%
Incremental from start of P4 to end of P4. This is to allow for gradual adjustment to the full paper that will be set at PSLE. Introduction to the complete PSLE format only at P4 SA2
SA1 (1 hour 30 minutes) Section A - 24 MCQ (48 marks) Section B - 11 Open-ended questions (32 marks) SA2 (1 hour 45 minutes PSLE Format) Section A - 28 MCQ (56 marks) Section B 12-13 Open-ended questions (44 marks)
Performance-based Assessment (PBA) Series of assessment conducted over several lessons 5 Assessment Components for each term s PBA Assessment components test a combination of process skills and concepts in the topic learnt. Rubrics (detail of assessment components) will be provided to parents and pupils at the start of the term
Assesses scientific practical skills and processes. Each station will assess 2-3 different skills. Duration of total test (30 minutes) 1 question per station (pupils are given 6 mins at each station to perform the given tasks) * 1 sample question is provided in the next slide.
Sample Question (Q1 part 1): You are given 4 plastic objects labelled A, B, C and D The 4 plastic objects have been classified based on a certain characteristic. Think about the possible characteristic and fill in the headings in the classification chart below. (1 mark) Objects A C B D
Sample Question (Q1 part 2): Classify the 4 plastic objects based on another characteristic. (3 marks) Objects
Sample Question: You are given 2 leaves labelled A and B Q1 Observe the two leaves in front of you. Draw the leaf in each of the space provided. (2 marks) LEAF A LEAF B Q2 Based on what you observe, state one difference between the leaves and state one similarity between them. (2 marks) Difference: Similarity:
Science lessons Pupils in Primary 4 will have 5 periods of Science every week. Pupils will need to have the following: 1) Science File (green) 2) Science Journal 3) Science Activity Books 4) Science Textbooks
What's in a Science Journal?
Why do we use Science Journals? Journals call for more extended entries than quick writes and are most successful if used on a daily basis. Both high-structure and low-structure (e.g. note-taking, reflection) journals can be used in a science class. Here are some examples of high-structure journal prompts science teachers use: Draw and label the parts of the digestive system. Arrange the following words into a web that shows their relationships. Analyze how you did with today s experiment. Were you able to follow the directions? Did the experiment turn out as you had predicted? Explain to a younger person (brother, sister, cousin) why it is important for everyone to understand about systems in our body.
Notes and drawings from lessons / your research
Help them see Science everywhere. - Highlight the variety of fruits and vegetables at the supermarket, and discuss how they differ from one another. Build on your child s interest. - Encourage your child to read Science magazines and related books as well as watch Science TV programmes (e.g., Discovery channel).
Expose them to scientific knowledge from other sources: Print and online (AsknLearn portal) Record learning in Science Journals. Build a resource library at home to allow your child to look for answers themselves Help your child to develop a routine for revision and homework.
1. Magazines Science Adventures Magazines National Geographic Explorer Pioneer & National geographic Extreme Explorer Young Scientists Magazine Rick Ranger Junior Science Spy Discovery Box 2. Literature Horrible Science List: http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/childrens-science
1. 2014 Primary Science Syllabus - http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/sciences/files/science-primary-2014.pdf 2. National Geographic Kids - http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ 3. Discovery Kids - http://kids.discovery.com/ 4. List of Science websites for kids - http://gws.ala.org/category/science 5. Discovery Kids - http://discoverykids.com/ 6. Websites with tips for Parental Involvement in Science Education - http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/parents.aspx (American education system context) http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/learnscience.html *This is not an exhaustive list.
Head of Department Mrs Eliza Ee eliza_lokadjaja@moe.edu.sg Level Head Miss Low Mei Yan low_mei_yan@moe.edu.sg