Does anybody know how Y3 science is assessed?

[MrsHeffley]

My ds's scientific knowledge is very good so much so I've been a bit concerned re him being stretched as he says a lot of it is too easy in school( got several scientists in the family so think he's got the Heffley science gene).He's just got age related grade in his report which I'm very surprised about but his teacher says although good in discussions he lacks detail in writing/recording.

So is Y3 science graded on recording as well as knowledge and if so how do you marry the 2 together ie not sure ds should be covering scientific knowledge he finds too easy just because his writing isn't as good. Aren't the two separate?

TIA

Why does it matter at this age?
As long as he is reading suitable books, watching programmes that intrest him and visits science centres such as the one in London or Glasgow he has plenty to keep him occupied

I say this as the mum of a year 7 boy who got the highest known mark for the first end of unti test at his secondary school who sailed through primary getting good but not brilliant grades

Because I don't want him switching off and I regard science as important as maths and English.Why should he just tread water?

Ds (yr 3) is musically very talented. His lowest grade in his last school report was for music. Even the head wrote a comment expressing his surprise. I think it is simply because the way the subject is taught in school doesn't interest him so he doesn't make any effort. Maybe that's the same for your ds?

Writing and recording are important parts of science though. If he can't two that properly it is a little silly "stretching" him.

As for grading - that will most likely depend on the school. The teacher told you why he got the grade he did.

MY DC always get praised for 'making sensible predictions' - not hard when you've already done the experiment before - ie will ice melt in the fridge or what happens to snow when it melts then you refreeze it - snow days a few years back - we did it because they asked the questions and we 'found out' - so long as he's still asking questions and you're giving him the opportunities to find out he won't be put off -
as for school science lessons that's down to the teacher to differentiate - it's not impossible - you need to have snowball she'd know how to deal with him.

He is 7. Science should be fun at this age too.

I understand that but would like a bit more info into how it's assessed generally before I ask for more info.

If recording is an important part of it(which I suspect it is) what do they do for kids like my ds who is hardly going to write/record in massive detail something he finds far too easy and well boring?

Surely information and recording are separate.

Ds's writing isn't as good as his reading which is very good and I supect his science.I have the same worry re history etc.He has a very good historical knowledge(not as good as his scientific knowledge but very good) but doesn't put enough detail in his writing.

So do the less able writers get less complex work?If so you can kind of see why some will switch off,boys in particular.

He's 8 but will switch off if bored.

Even in secondary school, assessment isn't all about knowledge. It's about investigation, analysis, evaluation. It sounds like he knows the soundbites but not the method. And that is of increasing importance.

See here for some level descriptors, if your school uses APP.

It doesn't have to involve lots of writing. I spend a lot of time discouraging my students from waffling

A science level is given by assessing two areas - knowledge (which is broken down into the three main sciences) and scientific enquiry, which includes recording and explaining findings as well as asking questions, making predictions, using equipment effectively etc. (full specification is here www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/primary/b00199179/science/ks2/sc1, on iPad and not figured how to make links sorry!)

If he is a poor writer then consideration should be given to this, and you can assess by asking to explain verbally, using a scribe for recording results etc.

Tbh the most important thing is not what level he is but if there are opportunities to stretch the more able in his class. If he has particularly strong knowledge then a good teacher should pick this up and extend him, as well as ensuring he improves the areas he is weaker in.

Sorry forgot to say that the two areas have equal weighting when assessing an overall level!

Agree with fallen it's not ablout knowing it already it's about how you predict, set fair tests etc, but I can see that he might feel that it's uncessary if he knows it already - my DC get involved and then when their prediction isn't right they enjoy finding out why - well DS actually DD is indignant that she might get someting wrong

Thanks Thefallen

I'm particularly worried because his twin who although good at science(again above age related imvho) got the above age related grade but he's not a patch on his twin with science although a very good writer.

The twin not as good at writing does analyse,evaluate etc on top of having fantastic knowledge.He devours fact books,constantly asking questions,investigating,discussing some quite complex issues.There isn't a day goes by that he hasn't set up some kind of experiment in the corner of his bedroom.His twin does non of that verbally or seems even interested to the same extent ie no experimenting,questions etc.

It seems bonkers that the twin less able at science in theory is going to be stretched more.

waves at jockeys a lot of teachers about today - are we all avoiding planning for next week or is it just me

Also thanks to Hockey etc too,really interesting.

Might they have got them muddled - are they identical ? - it is possible

Maybe :o

You have to be able to record, and explain why you have done certain things. You just have to. Even as an actual scientist of course. And none of it involves lots of writing.

My DS was similar. He has extensive general knowledge (I'm a Science teacher, DH an engineer), reads a lot, but had weaker writing skills and not much inclination to write. However, he has always achieved well in Science, because the little he does write is the right stuff, and he can achieve well against the scientific enquiry criteria. He does get a bit irritated at having to watch water cool TBH, but he'll do it, and identify the variables that need to be controlled too.

No they're not identical and in different classes.

Science boy is a dreamer,left handed,hates writing(although got age related grade) etc.His twin is a model grade A student at everything particularly literacy/writing.

Just getting a tad worried re how much science boy's lack of interest in literacy is affecting the rest of his school work and what impact it will have in the long term.

What can I do?Not going to get him to write up experiments at home as it'll kill his love for the subject.

Fallen ds has an electrical scientist grandad on one side and an areoplane engineer on the other coupled with a medical scientist uncle and his dad who has an engineering degree and an MSc.

He doesn't have to write them up, but you (or one of the interested parties) could talk him through the things his teacher would be assessing him on. So if he is experimenting at home, how did he decide what to change? What to measure? What other things does he need to keep the same? Why? How? etc.

And don't let him throw the term "fair test" around without really understanding what it means, if you want him to impress his secondary school Science teacher

One of my year 6 SEN children achieved a level 1A in writing last year and a level 4 in science because I spoke to him! My assessment was based on his scientific understanding and knowledge, not his writing ability. He sat the optional science test too but was read and scribed for, again it was his scientific understanding I was marking , not his literary skills!

Thanks that's really helpful. He's quiet too(and a dreamer) which I guess doesn't help.He's a funny little scrap.

Just holding on to the thought that all those I listed below were apparently the same but all did well in their chosen field in the end.