Using Science to Develop Thinking Skills at Key Stage 3

This book presents a series of practical activities designed to help teachers build an effective science curriculum for more able children. It focuses on: developing higher order thinking skills using conceptual language; directed activities relating to text for developing higher order skills; and in-depth study topics that emphasize a "real product" outcome. Activities range from short discussion topics and problems to solve, to whole-day masterclasses. Topics covered include: context enrichment - by team research/discussion and by visit plus follow-up work; general and science-based thinking activities; thinking tools - including zones of relevance; effective organization of information - herring bone diagrams, flow charts, flash cards; argument mapping; analysis and interpretation of data; modeling and using spreadsheets; and science writing activities.