Primary Autumn 1

Welcome back and a happy new academic year! I hope you are settling into the new term and for

many of you, getting to know your new classes.

I don’t think anyone would dispute the importance of reading – so here’s a great resource for

running a science reading challenge https://pstt.org.uk/resources/curriculum-materials/science-

reading-challenge Another great resource for developing scientific curiosity and literacy is provided

here: https://www.ogdentrust.com/resources-cpd/resources?type=&age=&series=working-

scientifically Whilst this great idea for science sentence starter cards is simple but non-the-less

effective https://thatscienceladycom.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/science-sentence-starters.pdf

A different twist – especially with Halloween around the corner, would be to combine stories and

science with activities from the following resource:

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/424470/there-witchcraft-and-wizardry-real-

world?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social%20media&utm_campaign=Celebrating%20STEM

%20Clubs:%20One%20year%20on%20from%20the%20STEM%20Inspiration

%20Awards#&gid=undefined&pid=1

One of the benefits of going back to school, is being able to use the fabulous resources shared by

others. Here is a link to a set of questions written for the various science topics across KS1 and KS2

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XR3IX-UklQ5BOUVdG7pbk_SnFuMHBCBi

If you are looking for curriculum linked science resources available on the internet – this is a helpful

link: http:// bit.ly/SotW_TES Don’t forget it’s still the 150th year of the Periodic Table

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FpJWWFVjs72CqDlojgUZFNsiE7MXqJzM/view And the 50th

anniversary of the Moon landing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NDSCIPrcyRuwqfnOtSDqGcn3CLlhKHnj/view

If you fancy inspiring your pupils to get creative and become inventors, then have a look at this

competition for 7- 14 year olds https://youngimagineers.equinor.com/ and if you’re running a

science club then check out https://www.whizzpopbang.com/science-club/ and here:

https://www.allaboutstem.co.uk/resources/new-school-year-start-a-6-week-stem-club/

Inspire pupils to careers in science by selecting the ones linked to the science topic they are

studying: https://thatsciencelady.com/resources/ and why not think about sorting out a STEM

ambassador visit too? Find out more and make a request here: https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-

ambassadors

There are lots of great ideas here too: https://education.theiet.org/primary/, from teaching

resources, STEM activity ideas and certificates and posters. You can even apply for grant funding:

https://education.theiet.org/funding/funding-schemes-and-bursaries/ but don’t leave it too late, the

deadline’s in a month or so. Don’t forget that many of these activities – where pupils are asking

questions and investigating to find the answers would be a great way to prepare for next year’s

Great Science Share https://twitter.com/GreatSciShare/status/1173292836806152195

Before the days close in – there’s still time to get outside and enjoy the school garden if you are

lucky enough to have one https://saps.org.uk/primary/beyond-the-classroom/233-gardening-for-

primary-schools-suggestions-for-investigations

I love ideas for simple to do practicals that don’t require lots of expensive and tricky to assemble

equipment. This fits the bill nicely: https://sciencefix.co.uk/2019/08/make-paper-circuits-without-

any-wires/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

And this fabulous activity links maths with science

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/440113/dinosaur-timeline Want more

guidance? Then this half day course is ideal: https://www.stem.org.uk/cpd/453564/linking-core-

subjects-science-and-mathematics

Looking a bit further ahead – the following workshop is taking place at the end of October

https://www.autostem.info/autostem-workshop-at-university-of-chester-thornton-science-park/

The workshop involves making automata and then videoing your creations – ready to take back to

school and share with your pupils.

If you are a primary science lead – new or established – the following snippet from twitter may be of

interest:

We are hosting two courses for primary subject leads – a half day in Cheshire (contact

slp@eatonbank.org for details) and a full day in Manchester –

https://www.stem.org.uk/cpd/455409/developing-role-primary-science-subject-leader

There are some helpful online courses available here: https://www.stem.org.uk/online-cpd and do

also check out the latest STEM Learning Primary Magazine: