How to Help your Child in Science
Exam Board:
OCR GCSE Twenty First Century Science
Mrs Thompson –
Head of Biology
Miss Terrington –
Head of Chemistry
Dr Timney –
Head of Physics
“Double” Science:
Triple Science:
Biology A
Chemistry A
Physics A
Revision Guides?
GCSE core = ‘science A’
+
GCSE additional =
‘Additional Science A’
Topics 1,2,3
Topics 4 ,5,6
Exam Board: OCR GCSEs Twenty First Century Science
Triple Science:
Biology A
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-biology-a-j243-from-2012/
Chemistry A
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-chemistry-a-j244-from-2012/
Physics A
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-physics-a-j245-from-2012/
“Double Science” is these two GCSEs:
Science A (‘core science’) GCSE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-science-a-j241-from-2012/
Plus
Additional Science A GCSE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-additional-science-a-j242-from-2012/
Students doing “Core Science” are just studying this one:
Science A (‘core science’) GCSE
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-twenty-first-century-science-suite-science-a-j241-from-2012/
Help will be at hand at…
Revision Guides?
Active Revision !
Eg ….
Y11 Revision Website
Edmodo
‘Processing’
Mind Maps
Flash cards of key words & definitions
‘Revision Bunting’ / post it notes
The idea of ‘bespoke mind maps’ are
that they are individual to the learner.
This one is shown as an example. It uses
a mixture of pictures / diagrams and
colour, as well as words to trigger the
memory. This particularly suits more
‘spatial learners’ / visual learners.
Emphasis is added by changing
the size / width of arrows.
If you want to find out what type of
learner you / your child is, there are
various website where you can find this
out eg:
http://www.varklearn.com/english/page.asp?p=younger
Word & ‘visual’ prompt
‘Definition’ needs to be
‘student-speak’
Add a ‘personal association’ with it –
to aid memory retrieval of the
definition.
My Granddad’s cat
kept dragging mice
into the house
because it is a good
predator !
Design of flashcards:
Cards are colour coded:
Green for biology
Blue for chemistry
Yellow for physics
Biology
Chemistry
This can help students to ‘file’ the information correctly & it fits in with the
colour codes that we use for exercise books in class.
Physics
Word
Visual Representation
Design of flashcards – back of flashcards:
Student Definition
Personal Association
This enables the brain to make a link’ that is attached to emotion /
one’s own experiences.
The link between the word and the definition is then reinforced by
repeated ‘retrieval’ from the brain or by ‘rehearsal’. between the
word and the definition because it has a ‘personal association
This needs to be ‘active’ , not ‘passive’; so
making the brain ‘do stuff’, not just staring
at a book!
Going through the flash cards time & time
again is (akin to practising a dance move or
tennis stroke).
This is an example of a
flash card that is not
quite right, although it
does have some
redeeming features !
Word & ‘visual’ prompt
‘Definition’ needs to be
‘student-speak’
… not copied from
the internet!
Add a ‘personal association’ with it –
to aid memory retrieval of meanings.
For those who are interested, this is some
further information about how psychologists
think the ‘mind’ works.
The idea with learning is to shift things into
‘long term memory’.
Students (additional & triple science) will be
learning more about this in biology topic B6.
If you are interested, there is information in
their revision guides – topic Biology B6
For those who are interested, this is some further information about how psychologists think ‘learning’ works.
‘Repetition’ helps to shift things into long term memory by reinforcing connections between some neurons (‘brain cells’) more than others. This is why
revision techniques like flash cards can be helpful because it involves repetition eg the meanings / use of key words – it’s like practising dance moves or
tennis strokes.
Students (additional & triple science) will be learning more about this in biology topic B6.
If you are interested, there is information in their revision guides – topic Biology B6
Example of flash cards in maths