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Thinking in Scientific Ways
Developing and Communicating Scientific Understanding

How Do We See? 3

Teachers' notes
Progress indicators
What the work shows Curriculum links The learning context Where to next

What the work shows

This is an interesting exemplar for discussion as the teacher used the draft science matrices to identify the strengths and weaknesses in Rochelle's work and to suggest "where to next". Rochelle's first explanation of how we see ("before" view) shows that she has constructed her own explanation and expresses it clearly. Her second explanation shows that while her use of scientific vocabulary is at level 2, her ideas to do with developing and communicating scientific understanding and an aspect of her ability to "think in scientific ways" are at level 3.

Rochelle's “before” view Rochelle's “after” view

Rochelle's "before" view

Rochelle's "after" view

 

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Progress Indicators

Thinking in Scientific Ways

Suggesting explanations
Rochelle suggests explanations supported by some evidence and uses evidence to support or refute them.

Comparing and evaluating explanations
Rochelle explains why she changed her ideas, referring to the evidence.

Developing and Communicating Scientific Understanding

Using scientific ideas in constructing explanations
Rochelle constructs a plausible explanation for an experience using some scientific ideas. She is able to link ideas about light sources, reflection, and the eye as a receiver of light to provide a better explanation. She supports her explanation with diagrams.

Using scientific vocabulary
Rochelle is experimenting with vocabulary to describe her scientific experiences (L2).


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