Why are word games essential?
Start by calculating the number of subject-specific words that you consider essential - multiply the number of key words per lesson by the number of lessons per week and then by three (for the three years of Key Stage 3 teaching).
The magic number is 2,000; that is the vocabulary size of someone able to have a conversation in most foreign languages.
So you need to use word games to ensure that pupils become familiar with that foreign language called Science.
Below is a list of the myriad word games that I have uploaded om to the TES shareware site - all at half-price for February!
Start by calculating the number of subject-specific words that you consider essential - multiply the number of key words per lesson by the number of lessons per week and then by three (for the three years of Key Stage 3 teaching).
The magic number is 2,000; that is the vocabulary size of someone able to have a conversation in most foreign languages.
So you need to use word games to ensure that pupils become familiar with that foreign language called Science.
Below is a list of the myriad word games that I have uploaded om to the TES shareware site - all at half-price for February!
The two pdf files below are free - just email William or see above for downloads from the TES shareware site (just a few more downloads and William's Ideas will have been downloaded over 10,000 times).
William's Ideas for Word Games is an 80 page pdf that is filled with dozens of ideas and examples of how word games can be used to complement your lesson; |
A wealth of engaging and effective strategies for developing literacy and understanding of scientific terms. TES Review Full of stimulating activities for pupils to enjoy while learning about the key words. Special Needs Information Press There are some very useful materials here that would enhance lessons and help make learning scientific vocabulary more fun [School Science Review 96 131] |
Tag Word Games are engaging activities that can be used to introduce new ideas or words, or to revise work from previous years
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The files below illustrate the information given and the words used at the specific pages of CGP Revision Guide for Key Stage Three Science; each file costs just £1 (that is right - one pound sterling), not a lot for a dozen puzzles that will engage your students with their learning.
(These files and more are also available at the TES shareware site)
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To order - click on the image below.
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There are dozens more files of models and word games - click on any image for further information.
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Every subject has three facets - the knowledge (facts that have to be learned), the skills (ways of thinking, talking or manipulating that have to be practised) and the lexicon (the subject specific words that allow rapid, precise communication), how these three affect teaching in several subjects is discussed in A triangle of learning on the TES shareware site.
Fantastic news ! This is THE dictionary for Junior Schools.
This 84 page pdf gives the meanings of all the words that pupils are likely to meet at Key Stage 2. Priced at £25 for a dictionary that can be loaded onto every tablet in your school. Click here for further information |
Every Science laboratory should have at least on copy (STE 50 56)
In all my years of teaching. I have never found a more useful resource! Said at the ASE Conference in January. Single copy for £15 +p&p, reductions for multiple order - click here for more information |
Encourage them to learn the spelling - having to work at finding the word has been found to encourage the learning of spelling, and help retain meaning (why else do you think that MFL continues to use dictionaries?)
Site license (load onto every iPad in the school) £28 (Which means less than 2p per pupil) Click here to order |
(VAT and postage will be added as appropriate)
Controversial
I have analysed some data that was obtained by cognitive ability testing in year 7 and again in year 9 - click CAT INTERPRETATION to start reading the analysis.
I have analysed some data that was obtained by cognitive ability testing in year 7 and again in year 9 - click CAT INTERPRETATION to start reading the analysis.
