Q&A - P3 Science

[mama_mia]

tianzhu:

Sun_2010:

Like in the example , if there was a question about which material would be suitable for making a handle of a cooking pan, steel would be marked incorrect. For that matter any metal.

Hi

The concern here is students who are capable of observing real life examples may end up giving alternatives which are different from those in the answer keys. If the marking schemes are strictly followed, then students may ended giving correct answers to questions, but are marked wrongly according to the question setter’s answer schemes.Students may ended up confused.

Best wishes

Hi

I agree with you, it is true, the school marking scheme always look for scientific answers. Just the other day, my girlfriend ask me a question, why do ppl like to use disposable plates for picinic? My friend reply it is convenience. It is true and logical but answer is wrong, the answer is styrofoam is light. I also learnt the lesson myself this year, 'cos my DD is P3 this year, it is an eye opener to me, i had to keep reminding her to give 'scientific' answer.

[buds]

Same here with me, mama_mia. :hi5:


I oso must think scientific now when answering her. :politebleah:

The brain now gotta programme to properties mode & characteristics
mode. That said, the SA1 was a good guide for me to help DD1 to
improve on her Science. I hope i can.

[Niedino]

Hi buds and mama-mia,


although it's true that for the answering of Science questions should be scientific in nature, what's more important is that we should teach them to identify the concepts behind the questions. I find that many pupils nowadays tend to answer questions without correctly identifying the concepts behind the questions. For e.g. I saw a styrofoam cutlery question earlier in the thread. Although it is not wrong to say that it is convenient, a pupil has to examine why it is convenient. Is it convenient because it is waterproof, flexible or light? These are properties of materials that they have learnt in Primary 3 and hence they have to show that they know this knowledge and apply them to their answers. So when we guide our pupils, perhaps we can explore the concepts behind the questions to help them understand better.

[buds]

Hi Niedino, precisely why i was sharing with mama mia that

we can encourage our children with scientific concepts by
tuning our brains to scientific concepts ourselves! :lol:

Especially after SA1 exams, we now know how our children's
school exam papers are set. Hence, if our children can sense
we try to advocate such spontaneous teachable moments in
our daily runs, Science becomes more relevant & spontaneous,
plus it also takes away some stress of seat work as well!

[Niedino]

Hi Buds,


I agree with you totally. Science is best learnt through experiencing it. Often kids need concrete experiences to help them apply the theoratical knowledge that they learn in school.

[usaik]

Hi,


I just found out that there is science practical test for my P3 boy this term. The topics the school has covered so far are : Diversity and …err…I think System or Cycle (not too sure).

Anybody here has any idea what was being covered in a Science practical test for a P3 kiddo?

[buds]

My P3 DD1 had practical exam for her recent SA1 which we were not

made known of. She says there were 4 stations and were given a
sheet of questions to answer. Instructions were given on how to
carry out each station’s experiment. The children have to answer
objective questions in relevance to the experiments that have bn
carried out. The experiments tested are based on the understanding
of the topics that have been covered for the semester. Dunno whether
all schools practise the same but just sharing mine. Hope this helps.

[usaik]

Hi buds,

Thanks so much for your generous sharing. What are the topics your DD had covered in the semester? Is it diversity or ??

[starlight1968sg]

buds:

My P3 DD1 had practical exam for her recent SA1 which we were not

made known of. She says there were 4 stations and were given a
sheet of questions to answer. Instructions were given on how to
carry out each station's experiment. The children have to answer
objective questions in relevance to the experiments that have bn
carried out. The experiments tested are based on the understanding
of the topics that have been covered for the semester. Dunno whether
all schools practise the same but just sharing mine. Hope this helps.

Yes, fr p3 onwards, dd has practical test/exam usually around end of July. I guess nothing much to prepare!

[buds]

usaik:

Hi buds,

Thanks so much for your generous sharing. What are the topics your DD had covered in the semester? Is it diversity or ??

Hi usaik, yes the major part of it was from Diversity.
I'll try to ask her later if she remembers the experiments
from the stations... so hopefully can share some more.