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Passport

This Association for Science Education (ASE) resource from the SYCD: Science Year Primary collection provides a template for a successful bridging topic between primary and secondary schools.

Passport can also be used as a stand alone activity in Year Six to help students focus on their investigative skills and provides a good record of students' achievements. Passport offers a start in the transition process through a choice of investigations and structured follow-up.

A colour or black and white 'passport' that can be printed out and photocopied for students to write on. Students record personal details in their 'passports,' collecting 'Visas' (included) awarded by the teacher to mark achievement in scientific skills. Investigations started in the primary school are completed at secondary school.

The investigations are:

*Looking at Habitats and Adaptations - the amount of fieldwork required is flexible and options for studying different habitats mean that school geography is not a barrier. Communication, group work and literacy are highlighted at different points in the activity.

*Solutions - this uses dissolving jelly as a focus for developing investigative and practical skills, including prediction, analysis and evaluation.

*Golden Ratio - focusing on their faces, pupils collect variation data that draws them into the world of the ancient Greek Golden Ratio. Numeracy is highlighted in the calculation of simple ratios.

The 'passport' pages need to be printed out back to back and photocopied for each student. Sheets of 'Visa' stamps should be printed out and cut and pasted into the passports. Alternatively they could be printed out onto sticky labels.

Teachers choose their own criteria for awarding 'Visas' for achievement. Care and sensitivity needs to be taken in managing the Golden Ratio investigation as it involves considerations of what makes a face attractive. This is done in an objective and sensitive way, but some Year Six students are becoming particularly aware of their own looks.

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Subject(s)Mathematics, Biology, Science
Age7-11
Published2000 - 2009
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Direct URLhttps://www.stem.org.uk/rxt8w

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