© Camden School Improvement Service Developing writing skills in KS3 science Julia Leewood Science...

© Camden School Improvement Service

Developing writing skills in KS3 science

Julia LeewoodScience consultant

Camden SIS

School Improvement Service Supporting teaching, learning & leadership – raising achievement

School Improvement Service Supporting teaching, learning & leadership – raising achievement

Alison PyleLiteracy consultantCamden SIS


Why teach writing explicitly in KS3?

• To reinforce learning in KS3

• To develop better thinking by developing connections between ideas

• To prepare pupils for KS4 assessment


Ready steady teach!

• Know your ingredients!– Data on the pupils current attainment– Pupils’ prior learning in science– Pupils’ attitude to writing in science– The current scheme of work and any planned

opportunities for writing


Our ingredients

– 20 bottom set Yr 9 pupils (only 4 girls)– KS2 levels 3 or 4 (Eng and Sci)– 7 EAL, 8 SEND – Towards the end of a unit on reproduction.

Learned about selective breeding and touched on genetic modification (GM)

– “Reluctant writers”– ‘Badger’ assessment task - a report on GM

tomatoes using tables of data– 3 lessons available


Unpicking the task

• We looked at the key assessment foci for the task (see worksheet)

• We considered the literacy skills needed for them to demonstrate their scientific knowledge


Filling the literacy gaps!

• Know how to explain what the evidence shows

• Know how to make a point using evidence to back it up

• Be able to discuss the strength of evidence in a conclusion


Should I sell GM tomatoes?


GM tomatoes

• A Biotechnology company has made a genetically modified tomato

They say:• Save waste! Our tomatoes stay fresh

longer than normal tomatoes• Great taste! Taste as good as the best

supermarket tomatoes• Healthy! Extensive laboratory tests have

shown they are safe for humans to eat


Your decision

• Should shopkeepers sell these tomatoes?

• Will the public buy them?

• To decide you have to study the data that compares these tomatoes with the normal ones.


Session 1: How to explain what evidence shows

So that by the end of this session…

• you will be able to a write sentences about GM tomatoes that describe the evidence and how strong it is.


Tell us what your data shows using this speaking frame

“Our data is about……….It shows that………”


Language of quantity


Use the words in a sentence

• Take a different piece of evidence

• Write a sentence saying what the evidence shows

• E.g. “The evidence shows that a vast majority of people would buy long life tomatoes if they were proven to be scientifically safe.”


Session 2: How to make a point using evidence to back it up

So that by the end of this session…• you will be able to make a persuasive point based on evidence using PEE


Advantages vs. Disadvantages

• In groups, decide whether the cards describe reason for or against selling GM tomatoes

• Sort the argument cards into two piles

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.virginmedia.com/images/tomatoes430x300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.virginmedia.com/homefamily/fooddrink/death-by-veg.php%3Fssid%3D7&usg=__1rZTWMltYGbwjQaxxDQoB_28o7g=&h=300&w=430&sz=13&hl=en&start=17&zoom=1&tbnid=H1MzAKqus2w0kM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=126&ei=yubcTrz2C8jMsgbB9v25Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtomatoes%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dvss%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1



Find the Point, Evidence, Explanation

“Bart Simpson's a bad role model for

children.

In one episode he telephones asking for

people with false names.

These actions may encourage children to

lie!”


Let’s try this with GM Tomatoes“One argument for selling GM tomatoes is that

on the whole people can’t tell the difference between GM and normal tomatoes.

The vast majority of people said they couldn’t decide which tomato looked best (452/500).

This suggests that most people would not be put off of buying GM tomatoes because of

how they look.”

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theleevalley.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/tomatoes.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theleevalley.co.uk/programme/tomatoes-during-the-war.html&usg=__B5K640xrmZ29gPJ-kGUj6YDnZ0k=&h=240&w=250&sz=15&hl=en&start=19&zoom=1&tbnid=bDYvXCfAYu0HRM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=111&ei=yubcTrz2C8jMsgbB9v25Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtomatoes%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dvss%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1


Useful phrases for writing explanations…

• This indicates …… This shows …….

This suggests …….

This supports the argument that …..

This reveals how important ……



Points and evidence…

• Choose a point you want to make from the arguments cards

• Use evidence from the tables of data to support your point (and use quantity words)

• Record your PEE

• Repeat with other points

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theleevalley.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/tomatoes.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theleevalley.co.uk/programme/tomatoes-during-the-war.html&usg=__B5K640xrmZ29gPJ-kGUj6YDnZ0k=&h=240&w=250&sz=15&hl=en&start=19&zoom=1&tbnid=bDYvXCfAYu0HRM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=111&ei=yubcTrz2C8jMsgbB9v25Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtomatoes%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dvss%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1


Session 3: How to discuss the strength of evidence in a

conclusion

• So that by the end of this session…• you will be able to indicate how certain you

are of your decision based on the evidence available


Language of certainty


What is your conclusion?Advantages

• Most people can’t taste the difference between GM and normal tomatoes

• GM tomatoes stay fresh longer than normal tomatoes.

• Waste less, save money• The majority of people

would buy safe GM tomatoes

• The majority of people can’t see any difference between GM and normal tomatoes.

Disadvantages

• People are worried about the health effects of GM tomatoes.

• Some people think normal tomatoes taste better than GM tomatoes.

• Most people will only buy GM tomatoes if they are convinced the tomatoes are safe to eat.


What is your conclusion?

• “Overall I will….

• sell GM tomatoes because…”

EverybodyNobody

The vast majority

Many people …

Some people …

Most people …

Definitely not definitely

doubtful certainly

perhaps


Session 4: Applying your learning to an exam question

in science

So that by the end of this lesson…•You will have written an exam answer that you are proud of


A model GCSE exam question!

Should you use solar water heaters?In this question you will be assessed on using

good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate.

Give the arguments for and against using solar energy rather than using an electric immersion heater. (Use evidence to back up your points).Write a conclusion about whether people should be encouraged to use solar heaters in the future, based on the evidence available.


What are the features of a good 6 mark answer?

• Look at the good answer.

• Identify the features of the answer that you think make it good.

• Write these in the margin

• Be ready to feedback


Success criteria

• At least one argument for and against using a solar heater.

• Each makes a point and provides evidence and an explanation to back it up.

• There is a conclusion that is backed up by a reason.

• Use of quantity words• Use of scientific words


Your turn!

• Answer the question about GM tomatoes

• You have ten minutes

• This is assessed work so try your best.

• Remember to use the success criteria to help you get top marks


Self assess

• Use yesterday’s PEE sheet to help you to mark your work.

• Which bit of the work are you most proud of?

• Write this on a post it note.

• Share your ideas with your friend.


Evidence of impact

• Pupils given 10 minutes to answer exam question on GM tomatoes

• All pupils on task throughout• Extensive answers produced• All pupils enjoyed saying what they were

proud of• Teacher reassessing what these ‘low

ability pupils’ were capable of when given explicit literacy support


Next steps

• Look at the written outcomes.

• What would you do with this class next?

© Camden School Improvement Service Developing writing skills in KS3 science Julia Leewood Science...

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