I guess it’s age dependent.


For a younger child (before P3), I’d immerse the child in science related text. It’ll not be an information report but stories on science, could be as simple as how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly in a storybook. It’ll be a transition stage for a child, from a genre they’re familiar with to gain scientific knowledge.

E3:

100% Science Process Skills by Casco has two separate books for P3 and P4. P3 book consists of the themes Diversity, Interactions and Systems whereas the P4 book consists of Cycles and Energy.

The Science Process Skills by teachers@work is an assessment book for Lower Block, but the worksheets in it are theme-based, ie several worksheets based on topics in a single theme.

Have you checked out the above books before?

I have checked out Longman Exam Science for Achievers, the one you had recommended. It has good questions, just that I find it a little tedious to identify and skip questions if they are not taught by her level yet. Thanks for sharing. I'll see what I can do.

Yes, I have checked those books.

Personally, I'm not impressed by Casco books which state process skills on their title but I don't think it's convenient to reveal my reason here.

For \"The Science Process Skills by teachers@work\", it's a good resource. However, it does not have MCQ, the questions are also not similar to PSLE and they focus more on prior knowledge and explanations. Thirdly, it's very pricey. It's more than $15 if I'm not wrong.

Don't get me wrong. It's still a good book to test your child on his/her understanding of topics as it elicits their existing knowledge. I didn't recommend it based on the above 3 reasons.

There're other good science books as well. It's just that I couldn't recall their titles and authors. Those 2 previous books recommended are the ones I've posted in my class blog, hence I was able to copy and paste.

It's tedious to filter questions but for quality learning, there're many parents who are willing to go extra miles for their children. If not, this forum wouldn't be called kiasuparents. :lol:

Vanilla Cake:

Compare the following differences between the respiratory and circulatory system in plants and in human beings. Which of them is wrong?


Option 1
Plant: Exchange of gases takes place in the leaves
Human: Exchange of gases takes place in the lungs

Option 2
Plant: Oxygen is pumped to all parts of the plant
Human: Oxygen is pumped to all parts of the body

Option 3
Plant: Carbon dioxide is not returned to leaves
Human: Carbon dioxide is returned to the lungs.

Option 4
Plant: There is no blood to carry food around the plant
Human: Blood carries food around the body

Answer given is option (2).
Is this correct?
Option (1) and option (4) are obviously correct.
Pls help to explain why option (2) is chosen instead of option (3) for this question.
TIA for your time and effort.

If this is Primary Science, I'd say it's option 2.

Transport system in plants involve only water and food, so the phrase \"returned to leaves\" is not appropriate. All parts of plants carry out respiration, hence it's not solely \"returned to leaves\".

Again, transport system in plants do not involve transport of oxygen. Similarly, all parts of plants carry out respiration, so they do not draw their oxygen from leaves.

TwaTau:

First of all, you got to get you kid interest into science. Best if you have real life example to explain to them the concepts, and take opportunity that comes by to relate to them.

What I did with my DD, who will be going to P3 next year, is to bring out the text book every night, just read through one chapter with her together, get her interested, and try to relate the daily encounter with the concept. She will come up with all kinds of example and link with the concept, and encourage her along the way. I think that will imprint on them better, and it won't become another subject and work for them.

Totally agree. Quality time with children makes a big difference. It's the passion in Science you ignite your child with.

If your child starts talking about Science when he/she gets back from school, your child is blessed with a teacher who can ignite that passion.

At the end of the day, it's the precision in Science language that will make a great difference in standards. For example, you can't write \"Gravity increases with height\" but you can write \"Gravitational potential energy increases with height\".

In promoting Science interests in children, do not neglect precision in language.

Personally, I find Norton rather disturbing and memory-consuming. I’ve actually uninstalled pre-loaded Norton and AVG. It’s less disturbing but it conflicts with other firewall programs like Zonealarm.


I used to like Zonealarm until I tried its full suite. I strongly recommend Zonealarm users to stop at its free firewall function.

Right now, I’m running AVG downloaded free from cnet and occasionally runs spyware and virus checks using HouseCall from trendmicro.

So, I’m not paying a cent for great PC health.

usaik:

Hi kenobi,
Thanks! I will check it out.

Do note that it's closed on Wednesday.

E3:

This book does not differentiate the topics for P3 or P4 level respectively. How would i know that I am not letting my kid do P4 questions when she's P3? Thanks.

Unfortunately, Science lessons go by themes and also by upper and lower blocks. Hence, different schools decide differently on which topic to start.

It's hard to come up with assessment books that target one level only. It'll be lucky if you can find a good one that's by topic.

Those I've mentioned go by upper (P5-6) and lower (P3-4) blocks.

I'd recommend that you check with your child's science teacher which topic and theme the school is embarking on for the year.

For P3, it should be be based on the themes diversity and system like classification of living and non-living things and plant system and some of the human systems like skeletal and muscular system.

Mindmap does not work for all children. It has many rules and it can be quite messy if you mindmap a whole topic on say plants.


I’ve taught both Mindmap and Concept Map to my class. It takes a very long time to work on a Mindmap and worst of all, not every child takes a liking to it.

Concept Map, on the other hand, has little rules and allows the teacher to demonstrate the concepts behind a topic fast. It’s a very efficient teaching and learning tool.

I’d recommend that a child works on a concept map on his/her own for every topic completed.

sjchong:

Anyone know any good science tuition centre at Seng Kang/Hougang/Serangoon area? I need one desperately for my daughter.

I've just posted in another thread there's a new one called TinkerLab near Kovan NEL.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=320360#320360

You can just walk in and see.

Yup, it’s a pity that the Lego Education Center has folded.


Most Lego Robotics courses are offered at school level instead of a shop. The only surviving shop I know is at Forum Galleria.

I’ve observed that they have holiday "camp" for Robotics.

I’d encourage you to sign up for the school one to check on your child’s interest level on Robotics.