St Andrew’s Learning Community

1. St Andrew’s Learning Community Glasgow City Council

2. Our Learning Community • Our Lady of Peace Primary SchoolSt Benedict's Primary SchoolSt Bridget's Primary SchoolSt Francis of Assisi Primary SchoolSt Joachim's Primary SchoolSt Maria Goretti Primary SchoolSt Paul's (Shettleston) Primary SchoolSt Rose of Lima Primary SchoolSt Timothy's Primary School St Andrew’s Learning Community

3. Learning Community Science Mentors • Laura Degnan Our Lady of Peace Primary School Tony Byatt St Benedict's Primary SchoolMoira MacLeod St Bridget's Primary SchoolAnton Gallagher St Francis of Assisi Primary SchoolMichelle Wilson St Maria Goretti Primary SchoolFiona Keddilty St Paul's (Shettleston) Primary SchoolLorraine Izzett St Rose of Lima Primary SchoolKatrina McDonnell St Timothy's Primary School

4. Our Objectives • To use our experiences from our attendance at the residential to help raise levels of engagement in science and technology in our school cluster through working with other mentors and teachers from our cluster.

5. Action Plan - Part 1 • All primary teachers in the learning community asked to complete a ‘Confidence in Teaching Science Wheel’

6. Action Plan - Part 2 • Learning community science mentors to hold a series of meetings to organise, resource and deliver a science inservice day for the learning community.

7. Action Plan - Part 3 • Proposal drawn up and presented to learning community Head Teachers and Quality Improvement Officer for endorsement.

8. Action Plan - Part 4 • St Andrew’s Learning Community Science Inservice held on Monday 21st October 2013 at St Benedict’s Primary. Our Lady of Peace Primary St Paul's (Shettleston) St Maria Goretti Primary St Benedict's Primary St Rose of Lima Primary St Bridget's Primary St Timothy's Primary St Joachim's Primary St Francis of Assisi St Andrew’s Secondary

9. Action Plan - Part 5 • Support learning community staff with further twilight opportunities • Organise and encourage learning community participation in SSERC Glowmeet • Share resources within the learning community

10. Learning Community Science Inservice • 125 teachers took part • Each teacher participated in 2 workshops • 5 workshops offered by LC Science Mentors and SSERC approved providers • Workshops offered included • Exploring the Local Environment • Understanding Electricity • Teaching Forces • Topical Science • Microscopes in the Primary Classroom

11. Exploring the Local Environment • Presented by 3 of our learning community mentors. • This session offered examples of fun, practical, simple activities to explore biodiversity through outdoor learning. • The session was held in the school garden.

12. Feedback: Exploring the Local Environment How relevant were the aims and objectives to your longer term professional needs? (question 1b) • Very relevant – 76% (41 people) • Relevant – 22% (12 people) • Marginally relevant – 2% (1 person) • Irrelevant – 0%

13. Feedback: Exploring the Local Environment TeacherQuotes Quotes – • ‘Today has developed my confidence in delivering outdoor education.’ • ‘Will encourage and implement development of science.’ • ‘Make more use of the school garden.’

14. Understanding Electricity • Presented by two of our learning community mentors. • Drawing on experiences from the initial SSERC residential, participants were involved in a range of engaging activities, for use within the classroom • Objectives of the presentation were to • Improve understanding of circuits • Discuss symbols and energy transfer

15. Feedback: Understanding Electricity Overall effectiveness of the event? (question 9) • excellent – 78% (25 people) • good – 22% (7 people) • Irrelevant – 0%

16. Feedback: Understanding Electricity TeacherQuotes Quotes – • ‘Very practical’ • ‘Great to see active ways you can teach electricity.’ • ‘Appropriate for all levels.’

17. Teaching Forces • This workshop was paid for from our learning community budget. • We enlisted the services of Tom Clark from the SSERC approved catalogue of workshops. • Included in this session was; • common misconceptions • teaching strategies • fun activities using everyday resources • CfE links

18. Feedback: Teaching Forces Is it likely that you would use the activities in your classroom? • Definitely - 94% (30 people) • Possibly - 6% (2 people) • Irrelevant – 0%

19. Feedback: Teaching Forces TeacherQuotes Quotes – • ‘Very enjoyable and really beneficial to the classroom.’ • ‘Not often I say this, but it could have been longer! (2hrs)’ • ‘Excellent ideas.’

20. Topical Science • This workshop was paid for from our learning community budget. • We enlisted the services of Nicky Souter from the SSERC approved catalogue of workshops. • Aims for this workshop included; • Giving participants the opportunity to explore a variety of media whilst promoting a learner’s general education in the context of topical science.

21. Microscopes in the Primary Classroom • Three of our mentors presented to LC teachers. • Sharing our LC microscopes we looked at • Functionality of the microscopes • Application in science outcomes • Cross curricular opportunities • Practical use of the equipment - observing materials and using the software.

22. Feedback: Microscopes in the Primary Classroom Overall, how effective was the trainer for this event? (question 8) • Excellent – 95% (36 people) • Good – 5% (2 people) • Irrelevant – 0%

23. Feedback: Microscopes in the Primary Classroom TeacherQuotes Quotes – • ‘Enjoyed looking at different materials.’ • ‘The possibilities are endless in the classroom.’ • ’Enjoyed having this opportunity to actually ‘use’ microscopes.’

24. Further Resourcing & Twilights • Fun with Forensics Glowmeet • SSERC resource boxes shared throughout the learning community • Science planners and pathways shared with all schools • Learning Community Twilights on the skills of science enquiry provided by our QIO

25. Glowmeet • Fun with Forensics Glowmeet held on 28th January 2014 • Met with broad enthusiasm from staff members throughout the LC

26. Science in our schools St Paul’s Shettleston • We first had the challenge of using circuit components to light a lamp.

27. Science in our schools St Paul’s Shettleston • We simulated the circuit by passing tokens around our circle. We learned that the moving particles in circuits are called electrons and that they all move at the same time.

28. Science in our schools St Paul’s Shettleston • Then we acted as the electrons in the circuit, carrying energy from the battery to the lamp. This helped us to understand that the electrons keep apart and continue to move until all the energy is transferred from the battery to the lamp.

29. Science in our schools St Paul’s Shettleston • We predicted what would happen when we used two batteries in our circuit instead of one. We carried out an investigation by simulating and then building the circuit. We found out that the lamp is brighter because it gives out more energy in a shorter time.

30. Science in our schools St Paul’s Shettleston • To help us learn about and recognise circuit symbols we played component snap and matching games. • Next we learned about conductors and insulators. Through investigation we found out that metals are good conductors.

31. What the pupils say Pupil Quotes St Paul’s quotes – • ‘I liked identifying and classifying.’ • ‘It was fun and interesting – I liked using the components to make the circuit.’ • ‘I thought it was very good and may be useful for when we are older.’ • ‘I enjoyed looking at circuit diagrams then actually making them.’

32. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • We explored the woods hunting for minibeasts

33. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • P1 and P2 investigated our sense of taste

34. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • We investigated the link between the sense of taste and the sense of smell

35. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • P7 pupils worked with P1 pupils to help them with their investigations

36. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • P3 investigate the human body

37. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • Practical investigations encourages enthusiasm for science

38. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • Exploring the woods led to classroom based investigations

39. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • Pupils planned and carried out fair testing

40. Science in our schools St Bridget’s • Collaborative working is encouraged

41. Science in our schools St Bridget’s

42. Science in our schools Pupil Quotes St Bridget’s

43. Science in our schools St Francis of Assisi • Increased engagement across the school

44. Science in our schools St Francis of Assisi • Development of after-school science club

45. Science in our schools St Francis of Assisi • Collaborative learning promoted throughout the school

46. Science in our schools St Francis of Assisi • Increased enthusiasm for science from our pupils

47. What the pupils say Pupil Quotes St Francis of Assisi quotes – • ‘Testing the fingerprints was the best thing we have ever done.’ • ‘We learned how cola can affect our teeth by looking at how it changed the eggshell.’ • ‘I was surprised at how the plants grew differently in different places.’ (dark and light)