Year 7 Science

Scientific Investigations

Guidance for Teachers and Parents.

Lesson 5. Evaluating

National Curriculum: Programmes of Study for Sc1

In the context of Life Processes and living things, Materials and their properties and Physical Processes pupils should be taught about experimental and investigative methods.

Key Elements

(a) To consider whether the evidence is sufficient to enable firm conclusions to be drawn.

(b) To consider anomalies in observations or measurements and explain them where possible.

(c) To consider improvements to the methods that have been used.

Objectives

Pupils should be able:

(a) To compare the results expected with their recorded or observed data.

(b) To consider whether this data supports their original ideas.

(c) Look for and identify any unusual results in their data.

(d) Suggest improvements to their experiments in light of their performance of the experiment and their results.

Notes

This is the most challenging aspect of investigations and should be introduced to pupils with care. Do not allow evaluating to dominate the investigation work. This skill will slowly develop as the pupils become more experienced at investigating.

Pupils are directed to some suggested investigations at the end of this lesson. These can be used to stimulate the more able and faster working students. They can constitute whole investigations or they can be used to develop particular skills e.g. planning and predicting.

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