Continuing Professional Development
AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust CPD units are designed for you to keep your knowledge of primary and Key stage 3 science up to date. Each unit can be viewed both on line and/or downloaded as a PowerPoint presentation. The idea behind the downloadable version is to provide Subject Leaders in primary and secondary schools with high quality cutting edge in-service training materials. If you wish, you can also order a free DVD containing all the PowerPoint presentations.
Resourcing Primary Science
This unit has been created by Rosemary Feasey to support teachers with responsibility for science in primary schools. The aim is help teachers to develop and organise science resources, so that they can be used to full potential by everyone in the school. The unit offers suggestions on a range of topics from developing a school policy, purchasing and organising resources, to health and safety, as well as tips for using resources and contact details for equipment suppliers. Primary Science
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsCross Curricular Science
Based on the Centre for Science Education's Double Crossed and Triple Crossed projects, this unit offers the opportunity to foster interest and engagement in science through cross-curricular teaching and learning techniques at Key Stage 3.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsScience and Special Educational Needs - the STRATA project
This CPDU has been developed by Cambridgeshire teachers, involved in the STRATA (Science to Raise and Track Achievement) project, to support the work of teachers of pupils with Special Educational Needs in Science.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsYork STAY Project
This is a 2 year initiative and provides you with a range of stimulating material to help you understand issues of transfer and use bridging lessons at KS2 and KS3. This unit has been created with the help of Martin Braund, from the Department of Educational Studies, York University
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsTalking Science
This CPD unit explores argument as a teaching and learning strategy for primary science. The unit is supported by classroom materials, designed to introduce children to using argument. It explains how these materials can be used to improve transition from Year 6 to Year 7.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsFostering Curiosity In Early Years Science
When you liberate and channel the energy and enthusiasm of young children they can be amazing explorers of their worlds. When you observe that energy and enthusiasm, you will recognise opportunities to develop as a practitioner. In this unit, you will see how teachers have supported their children as they build on the ideas they bring to the classroom.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsA Scientist in Your Classroom
This unit offers you the opportunity to discover the many ways in which you can work with a scientist in your classroom.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsBright Ideas in Primary Science
Increase the level of challenge through dedicated discussion slots which encourage higher order thinking.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsDiscussions in Primary Science
We want pupils to be better at discussing and arguing about scientific issues, ideas and findings. There has been a National Strategy, to improve standards of literacy including speaking and listening skills, but not much has been done in science lessons.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsEffective Displays
This unit offers you an opportunity for you to reflect on the value of classroom displays, especially those involving children's own work, with team members from Bretton Hall, University of Leeds, partnership teaching project. The Effective Science Displays Continuing Professional Development Unit was originally written by Martin Braund and Roy Phipps. The teaching partner was Maggie Mitchell of Oakhill Primary School, Barnsley. The unit has recently been updated by Rosemary Feasey.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsEnrich Science Learning
This CPD Unit shows how science centres can extend and enrich your children's experience of science in the classroom. It considers how to prepare for and follow up a visit to a science centre, as well as looking at what the children will be doing on the day itself.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsThe Thinking Frames Approach
The Thinking Frames are an approach to promote classroom discussion, thinking skills and written explanations, they are not worksheets. However, teachers may find the downloadable templates useful when they first introduce the approach to children and other teachers. By using the worksheets you can very quickly demonstrate the 5 sections of the process and introduce the various thinking stages to the children.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsScience Clubs
This unit introduces science clubs and the benefits of running a science club. It aims to give teachers ideas on how science clubs can be run successfully in a number of different ways and how a typical science club session is run. This unit also provides example activities and places that you can go for ideas and help.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsEAL Primary Science
This unit offers you an opportunity for you to reflect on issues related to teaching children with English as an Additional Language (EAL).
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsInteractive Whiteboards for Effective Primary Science
This Continuing Professional Development unit has been designed for colleagues who have not yet got an Interactive Whiteboard or those who are in the early stages of using one.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsTeaching Science in the Foundation Stage
Explores how science fits into the early learning goals and what it is like to teach science to a foundation class.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsLets Think Through Science
'Let's Think through Science' is intended to develop thinking in pupils aged 7 - 9 years. It comprises 15 lessons based on science topics frequently taught in years 3 and 4. The lessons can be implemented in primary classrooms, using equipment and resources that are available in most schools and within the time usually allocated for science.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsFloorbooks
Floorbooks are used as a strategy for developing and assessing children's understanding of science, mainly, but not exclusively, with younger children or others who have limited writing skills.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsPupil Questions
Children learn far more effectively when they are actively involved with a lesson, especially if they feel that their own questions have guided the lesson. This unit has been created with the help of the Education School of John Moore's, Liverpool: Joyce Porter and Peter Harwood.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsConcept Cartoons
The series of Concept Cartoon books and posters are already an established classroom tool and provide children with easy to understand yet challenging introductions to key science concepts.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsConcept Mapping
Its value in managing and assessing primary science lessons. This useful technique is explained in the following module with supporting demonstrations from a primary school class.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsThe Science-Physical Approach
The Science~Physical approach – exploring scientific concepts through the creative arts (in this instance movement and dance) – is closely based on a ground-breaking action research project, Dancing the Words, undertaken in a London primary school.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsPersonal Capabilities
Together We Learn was a 2 year continued professional development programme funded by the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust, involving 18 primary schools in developing Personal Capabilities at Key Stage 2.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsCoteaching
Coteaching explicitly brings two or more teachers together to improve what they can offer to the children they teach, while providing opportunities to learn more about their own teaching.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsLet's Talk
This CPDU has been produced by Marjorie Smith from ‘Science and Plants for Schools’ (SAPS). The CPDU is based on a project called ‘Let’s Talk’ which has been supported by the Wellcome Trust’s ‘Engaging Science’ grants scheme.
Learn more / Download the full Presentation MaterialsThe on line version of each CPDU is intended as a self-study version for you to view at your leisure and to be used as an aid to the development of your knowledge of the topic.
The downloadable Subject Leaders' PowePoint presentations are designed specifically to form the basis of in-service professional development activities for you to use with colleagues. The innovative feature of this is that you have the option to show the presentations just as they are or, if you prefer, to customise, tailor and edit them to meet much more precisely the needs and circumstances of your school.
Order a FREE DVD of all the presentations here.