Various different tools and assessments are being used at St Alban's Catholic School to support the growth in Science Capabilities.

Our main objective for Term One was to survey the school with respect to the Science Capabilities of Gathering and Interpreting Data and Using Evidence. This would inform teaching. Our Year 4-6 information came from the Junior Science: Thinking with Evidence which was administered in Term 4 2018. This data was analysed by Carmen (Kaha Education) who provided us with the following statement:

“The Science Thinking with Evidence data shows that students in year 4 and 5 were performing above the national reference group but showed that they were challenged by interpreting graphs, tables, and images which are all forms of the Nature of Science sub-strand of Communicating in Science.”

The survey for the junior school was developed using two resources from the ARBS: “What you can really see” and “What makes you think that?” Both resources have multiple questions options which allows for a pre and post survey. The survey was marked and I shared the results with the staff.

Using the TKI Science website and some questions provided by Carmen I made and laminated a set of questions that could be used for the capabilities. One of the teaching actions that resulted from this was that the sheet was used in other subjects, especially reading, to focus on what the children could see in pictures in texts and also making observations in mathematics.

With respect to the focus on interpreting graphs and tables the Year 5 and 6 class have been involved in some cooperative learning activities for this during mathematics.

Joanne Foote is the Within School Leader from St Alban's Catholic School.