Practical work to deliver ‘How Science Works’

Why are we here?

• There are many positive changes to the new KS4 curriculum

Changes to KS4

There is an emphasis on scientific literacyPupils should get better at distinguishing between

opinion based on scientific evidence and opinion based on non scientific ideas – they should be increasingly able to question the reports they see in the media..

They should learn about the applications of scientific knowledge and how these have changed over time and they should develop a greater understanding of the social, economic and ethical implications of certain decisions

Slight worry..

Many of the texts and resource materials being published for the new specifications do not emphasise practical work

Lots of good activities and exercises but many rely only on secondary data or analysing articles from the media

And yet if we look at the statements in the ‘how science works’ section……

Data, evidence, theories & explanations

1a. How scientific data can be collected and analysed.

1b. How interpretation of data, using creative thought, provides evidence to test ideas and develop theories.

1c. How explanations of many phenomena can be developed using scientific theories, models and ideas.

1d. That there are some questions that science cannot currently answer, and some that science cannot address.

Practical and enquiry skills

2a. Plan to test a scientific idea, answer a scientific question or solve a scientific problem.

2b. Collect data from primary or secondary sources, including using ICT sources and tools.

2c. Work accurately and safely, individually and with others, when collecting first hand data.

2d. Evaluate methods of collection of data and consider their validity and reliability as evidence.

Communication skills

3a. Recall, analyse, interpret, apply and question scientific information or ideas.

3b. Use both qualitative and quantitative approaches

3c. Present information, develop and argument and draw a conclusion, using scientific, technical and mathematical language, conventions and symbols and ICT tools.

Applications and implications of science

4a. About the use of contemporary scientific and technological developments and their benefits, drawbacks and risks.

4b. To consider how and why decisions about science and technology are made, including those that raise ethical issues, and about the social, economic and environmental effects of such decisions.

4c. How uncertainties in scientific knowledge and scientific ideas change over time and about the role of the scientific community in validating these changes.

Our view is ..

• The best way to encourage this is to do real investigative science

• To help students to become genuinely curious by…

setting investigatory work in a context and

providing stimulus material to get them to generate their own questions

Hydroponics3abc 4a

Tissue culture 4a

Natural selection 1c 3abc

Growth1ab 2bcd

Photosynthesis1b 4c

Productivity1b 2bcd 3abc

Inter/intra specific competition3abc

VariationPods/seeds 2bcd

Crop variation – length, girth, mass (1a 2bcd) and flavour (3b)

Evolution(wild types) 1c

Supermarket selection 4bc

Crops e.g. carrots, sugar cane, rice, wheat, beans, rcbr, lettuce, tomatoes 2a

Genetics 1c

Ethics 3c

G.M crops1cd, 3c 4abc

Species hybridisation

Selective breeding3abc

Commercial varieties 1d

Farming3ac

Customer choice 4bc

Nutrients 3bc 4b

organic

insecticides

intensive

Fertilisers 1ab 2bcd

Food miles4b

Efficiency and waste3abc 4 Protein, carbohydrates

carotene

TLC

Graph work 1b,2bcd

Effect of human activityon the environment

Hydroponics4a

Germination of plants1a 1b 1c 1d2a,2b,2c,2d

3a,3b,3c

Selective breeding

Contemporary scienceGenetic modification Ethical issues

4a

Variation and naturalSelection

5b

Effects of humanactivity on the environment

8a

Seed viability

Copper pollution from

medieval mine - potential health threat…

Slag heap from copper mine. Storm – washed onto land – reduction in yield – some plants dying. Scientists say "The drainage waters are more acidic than vinegar, with pH values around 2, and carry large loads of metals, including copper, zinc, and iron.”.

Questions generated by pupils

• Does copper affect germination?

• Does copper affect growth?

• Are some plants more tolerant of copper than others?

• What minerals do plants need to be healthy?

• Do plants grow better with more minerals?

• How do some plants grow in poor soils?

Generating primary data

• Set up your own dish with white mustard seeds.

Generating primary data

• Collect the ‘ones we did earlier’ What observations/measurements could you make?

Collecting primary data

10

200

175

150

125

100

75

50

25

0

mean10987654321%Nos(ppm)

Shoot/root length (mm)Germination Cu

707200

707175

10010150

10010125

909100

90975

80850

90925

1001010

9090

%NosCu (ppm)

Germination

Comparison of seed germination rates

9223Coriander

8822Linseed

9423.5Fenugreek

10025Wheat

8822White Mustard

%Numbers germinated /25

Seed

Using secondary data

62506456556570655550781001010

2.0 2222222707200

9.1 612101010412707175

3.86422162222210010150

10.31017131116411145210010125

12.2 61027161762620909100

11.6 2049141415155890975

16.1 129198224371880850

21.9 214281944164230290925

60.3 7588148494526622489090

mean10987654321%Nos

Cu (ppm)

Root length (mm)Germination

Effect of Cu upon root length of white mustard

60.3 62.0

21.916.1

11.6 12.2 10.33.8

9.12.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

0 10 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200

Cu (ppm)

Me

an

len

gth

(m

m)

Effect of Cu on mean shoot length

15.4 15.811.8 13.3 11.4 9.3 9.5

6.2 5.72.9

0.05.0

10.015.020.025.030.035.040.0

0 10 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200

Cu (ppm)

Me

an

len

gth

(m

m)

Effect of Cu upon growth of white mustard

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

0 10 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200

Cu (ppm)

Me

an

len

gth

(m

m)

root

shoot

OLD SCIENTIST Volume 1, Issue 1

4th December 2006

Copper not so harmful

A leading UK Plant Scientist says

“plants need minute quantities of copper because some oxidase type of enzymes require copper to function, and because copper is involved in electron transfer during photosynthesis. However, amounts in excess of 30 parts per million are usually toxic. Root growth is impaired as the copper binds to cell membranes, damaging them”

Full article available to read