Remote
*We are extending our offer for a limited time only. All eligible schools will receive a subsidy of 70% towards the cost. Please email NMSLP@potteries.ac.uk for the TRP code.
Summary
This online event is delivered in collaboration with Shropshire Local Authority, University Centre Shrewsbury, Warrington Association of Primary Headteachers and Science Learning Partnerships North Midlands, Central Midlands and Cheshire and Wirral.
Following on from last March’s inaugural Leading Primary STEM conference we are delighted to be joined this year by Christina Whittaker, co-author of “10 Key Issues with Children’s Learning in Primary Science in England” who will be delivering the Keynote. She has a wealth of experience in Primary Science education including being National PSQM Regional Hub Leader Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub Senior Professional Development Champion (University of Manchester)
Christina Whittaker Keynote: Teaching children to build better scientific questions
The skill of question asking and crafting a question that leads to new ideas and better problem solving is not only desirable in classrooms but is essential for lifelong learning too.
This session will share a commitment and vision for child led scientific question asking. The session will also reveal how this can be done in practice. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore classroom tools and techniques for question producing, question handling and question developing.
Although children ask many questions, these are too often simply celebrated without sufficient regard for quality nor how they might be improved. There is a risk that children do not get better at the working scientifically skill of question asking. Does your curriculum plan for skill progression or just skill coverage? Is your curriculum enabling more self-directed and successful learners? Perhaps the answer is in fact in the question!”
Workshop topics will include:
- Effective integration of Science and Mathematics
- Developing a curriculum to support creative thinking
- Inspiring D&T in a Science context
- Planning for progression in the Science curriculum
- Further purposeful effective practical work in Science
- Teaching tricky concepts
- Think Like a Grown Up – Whole Brain thinking and Problem Solving
- Embedding literacy in Science
- Meeting the needs of all pupils
- Using digital technology to support assessment
- Developing the EYFS STEM curriculum
- Working with STEM Ambassadors
Outcomes:
- To have explored the importance of high quality questions generated by children and strategies to develop children’s questions
- To have engaged with research and strategies to ensure effective curriculum planning and development
- To explore aspects of curriculum development to support strong progression and raising aspirations for all learners including reading, numeracy and practical work
- To evaluate the implications of challenge and ambition for all in your STEM curriculum provision
