The UK’s Number 1 Key Stage 3
Science course is back!
• Why we created KS3 Exploring Science: Working Scientifically
• The research behind the development
• What Exploring Science is
• Supporting you in developing your KS3 students with Exploring
Science
Listening to you…
Extended Answer and Literacy Skills
Use of Mathematics
Modular to Linear
Measurable progression in every
lesson
Cognitive Process
Conceptual
Statement
Remembering
Understanding
Applying
Analysing
Evaluating
Synthesising
& Creating
Evidence Based Research
“I did loads! ... I wanted it to be a really,
really pace-ey lesson – it gave my
lesson pace like never before. I didn’t
feel there were any wasted minutes ... I
held their attention for a whole hour! ...
it was superb” (Serena – after teaching a
lesson using the resource)
Because there was so much to choose
from, the pick ‘n mix was really, really
good! So, I could pick and mix them
really nicely. I felt the students moved
miles ahead with that, in terms of skills.
I really did feel that.” (Serena – after
teaching a lesson using the resource)
“So I took the opportunity to start
biology with the new term – exactly start
right from the beginning, and I used the
Topic on Life Processes and took it
through from there, and it worked
extremely well!... nothing that I used
was not worthwhile!” (James – after
teaching a lesson using the resource)
[about the literacy] “now, that’s better!
So, that’s more formal, it’s also more
developmental and thinking about the
others, they can put some good bit of
writing in there as well, we can see a bit
more literacy rather than cutting out and
sorting” (James)
“I think in that way, we all use some
sort of formative assessment but in
terms of, say, a more stringent levelled
formative assessment – that does,
actually, take some time to sit down
and plan and, so, that might not be
every lesson where it could be peer or
self-assessed or teacher assessed
where you give them. Produced by the
University of Reading March 24, 2014
Page 5 levelled criteria to meet. We
haven’t got the time – or I haven’t ,
assuming everyone else is the same as
me, we haven’t got the time to do that
for every lesson, and at this level you
need to do that, have you done this,
yes or no, you need to do this.” (T6)
How will Exploring Science support
you?
Working Scientifically
Literacy
Developing literacy and
communication skills in readiness
for Key Stage 4
Use of mathematics
Formative assessment
Measurable Progression
in every lesson
Exploring Science is flexible to suit
your curriculum planning
Exploring Science includes 36 units of teaching spread over three years. The first 30
units cover the 2014 Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for Science. The final 6 units cover
GCSE preparation and skills, extended projects, a final end of Key Stage 3 exam, and a
revision period leading up to the exam. In total over the 3 years course you will cover 180
topics.
Exploring Science is flexible to suit
your curriculum planning
2 Year teaching Plan - Covering all 30 Units which embed the 2014 Key Stage 3
National Curriculum for Science over two years. But reducing the number of topics
from 180 (3 year course) to 126.
2.5 Year teaching Plan - Covering all 30 units as per the 3 and 2 year teaching plan,
minus the 6 GCSE Revision units, in total covering 150 topics over the period of the course.
Exploring Science: Digital and Print
Resources
What's available and what's coming
soon?
Year
Resource
Date
Year 7
Student Book
Available
Year 7
ActiveLearn – all units
Available
Year 7
ActiveTeach – all units
Available
Year 8
Student Book
September 2014
Year 8
ActiveLearn – 1st 6 units
September 2014
Year 8
ActiveLearn – 2nd 6 units
December 2014
Year 8
ActiveTeach – 1st 6 units
September 2014
Year 8
ActiveTeach – 2nd 6 units
December 2014
Year 9
Student Book
Spring 2015
Year 9
ActiveLearn – all units
Spring 2015
Year 9
ActiveTeach – all units
Spring 2015
The UK’s Number 1 Key Stage 3
Science course is back!
• Why we created KS3 Exploring Science: Working Scientifically
• The research behind the development
• What Exploring Science is
• Supporting you in developing your KS3 students with Exploring Science
sarah.harding@pearson.com
uk.pearson.com//key-stage-3/ks3-science.html