Effective Lessons Training Materials

These Key Stage Three National Strategy training materials from the Department for Education are designed to run a session with science teachers to help them develop structured three-part lessons by using engaging starters, main and plenary activities.

Components
*Session 1 - What is an effective science lesson?:
Examines the important aspects of an effective science lesson and makes reference to the Framework for Teaching Science: Years Seven, Eight and Nine to enable participants to reflect on science teaching in their own school. Models are examined for the ‘three-part lesson’ and how these are adapted to take account of teaching practical work in science.

*Session 2 - Starter activities:
Participants consider the different purposes for which starters can be used. Using the QCA scheme of work for inspiration, participants identify and categorise possible starter activities, and take part in a variety of examples.

*Session 3 - Developing the main activity:
Participants consider defensive teaching strategies and how such strategies can impair learning in science, and then identify interactive teaching methods and discuss the most appropriate way to apply them in science lessons.

*Session 4 Use of the plenary: Participants have the opportunity to take part in a variety of plenary activities. Pitfalls associated with plenaries, and possible solutions, are discussed and participants have the opportunity to ask questions and raise issues prompted by the unit as a whole.

These materials consist of:
*Tutors notes – includes Overview of the unit, Unit objectives, Outline programme, Synopsis, Preparing for the unit, Resources needed for each session and Evaluation forms.
*Training slides for the session
*Additional slides to illustrate different models of lesson structure
*Participants resource pack – copies of the slides and handouts used in the training
*Additional handout with ideas for starter and plenary activities in science
*Additional handout on making use of the plenary