The curriculum – Dundee City Council

A Programme for Primary and Secondary Schools    PRIMARY PROGRAMME – Topic Listing

The Dundee Primary and Secondary 5-14 science programme has been written by experienced teachers to help other teachers provide for pupils an experience in science that offers progression and continuity in their learning. A comprehensive programme of 35 topics for Primary 1 to 7 and 15 topics for S1/2 has been written to ensure that the science targets in the revised national guidelines for Environmental Studies 5-14 are fully addressed. These topics have now been revised and there are 30 topics in the primary programme.

In response to requests from schools, the topics have been designed to cover each outcome at each stage. A list of topics in a suggested teaching order and related levels is included in Annex 1.

AIMS     Flexible Delivery     Support for Transition       Support for Schools      Key Features of the Programme P1-S2        Future Support

1.     Aims

The programme has four key aims. These are to :-

• raise standards of attainment in science

• support teachers with advice about content, strategies for learning and teaching and assessment

• help pupils acquire and develop appropriate scientific knowledge, skills and attitudes

• engage pupils and raise their interest in and awareness of science and socio -scientific issues

• prepare pupils for further study in science

2.        Flexible Delivery

Primary schools are encouraged to be flexible in the way they offer science to their children. Although learning is organised into topics, each with a series of key activities, no preferred model of delivery is recommended.  Indeed a flexible approach will allow schools, and possibly classes within schools, to find the most appropriate way of offering a quality experience in science for the pupils.  Science in primary schools can potentially be delivered in topics of differing lengths at different times of the year and/or as a series of regular lessons.

In Secondary schools the order can be flexible but attention is drawn to relevant prior learning experiences.

3.        Support for Transition

The revised strategy for 5-14, [Curriculum and Attainment 5-14 file - Paper 1: Dundee City Council Education Department, 2002] identified the need for stronger transition between primary and secondary schools.  A key component of the strategy is the development of ‘ common threshold experiences’ for all primary pupils at P6 and P7.  This will ensure that, irrespective of which primary school a pupil attends, all pupils entering S1 will carry forward a core of shared experience in science that allows the receiving secondary school to build on what they have already learned.  In this way progression and continuity in pupils’ learning is strengthened.  To secure the full benefits of this arrangement for pupils, schools will need to develop an agreed approach to teaching science in the upper primary school.  This will be the subject of full discussion with schools.

4.        Support for Schools

The Education Department has now put in place a comprehensive set of arrangements to drive forward learning and teaching in science.  This is in response to discussions with schools about support needs.  The arrangements include :-

• a well planned, revised programme offering progression and continuity

• a full calendar of staff development activities for primary teachers and support staff at all stages

• targeted support for secondary teachers in new or unfamiliar areas of content

• on-going discussion and support for managers related to matters of assessment and transition into secondary school

• a curriculum support group to advise on future developments in science in Dundee

• a range of other science activities, festivals and events targeted at specific stages.

5.     Key Features of the Programme P1-S2

The following is a summary of the key features of the programme :-

• A programme is written for each teaching stage

• Attainment Targets are grouped into Topics

• Topics may comprise Attainment Targets from different strands and different outcomes

• Topics may comprise Attainment Targets from different levels

The P1 – P7 programme addresses attainment targets at levels A to D.
The S1 – 2 programme addresses attainment targets at Levels E and F

For each Topic a Teacher Guide has been produced.  This consists of :-

• Topic Planner, comprising four A4 pages. This identifies relevant previous learning and attainment outcomes, the attainment outcomes for the topic. It also outlines the content and lessons, pointing out opportunities for IT and related curriculum areas. 

• A series of Activity Plans, comprising a double page spread for each activity.  These give comprehensive advice on aspects of learning and teaching as well as helpful references to commercial materials.

Where appropriate the following have also been produced :-

• Record Sheets which are designed to be completed by the pupil.  There are examples for primary topics which have been produced using Textease ™ which could be completed on a computer.  Most pupil record sheets have been produced using Word™

• Activity Cards which give instructions for activities and would normally be non consumable.  These may benefit from being placed in plastic pockets or laminated.

• Additional background information for teachers as appropriate.

• Pupil self-evaluations for all topics

6.        Future Support

Support for teaching science in primary schools will continue throughout session 2003/4 in the form of  :-

• Staff tutor support in schools for teachers, managers and pupils.

• A comprehensive programme of in-service and CPD activities

• Enhanced science activities provided by the Dundee City STEM partnership in the form of science festivals, special events, summer school, challenges and visits to Sensation science centre for all P7 pupils.

• A bank of assessments for all Dundee Science topics.

PRIMARY PROGRAMME – Topic Listing

Annex 1e 5 – 14: Dundee Science Programme – Primary