CLIS Understanding Plant Nutrition

The aim of the Children’s Learning in Science Project (CLIS) was to discover how to use a constructivist approach to teach selected topics, and translate this into materials which could be used by teachers. The teaching strategies suggested to achieve the CLIS objectives in lessons include a focus on the use of: *small group discussion to elicit ideas *students reporting back their findings *writing as a means to record ideas and changing views, develop thinking, provide an account of work undertaken *encouragement of students testing their own ideas – using enquiry and practical work *giving time to think about experiences *reviewing ideas – and comparison with previous ideas *choice in learning activities Guidance for using these strategies is provided and developed in the various materials. Examples of learners’ work and thinking are reproduced from working in class, along with transcripts of conversations between teachers and students, and between students themselves.