Teacher Development Workshop Intermediate Phase Natural Sciences and Technology
CONTENTS PAGE CONTENTS PAGE... 2 ACTIVITY A:... 3 NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO CAPS... 5 ACTIVITY B: NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY TEXTBOOKS... 5 ACTIVITY C: NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY INTERMEDIATE PHASE (GRADE 4)... 6 ACTIVITY D: NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY INTERMEDIATE PHASE (GRADE 5)... 10 ACTIVITY E: NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY INTERMEDIATE PHASE (GRADE 6)... 15 HOW PLATINUM AND DAY- BY- DAY NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY BOOKS CAN HELP YOUR TEACHING... 19 HOW PLATINUM AND DAY- BY- DAY NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY BOOKS COVER CAPS... 21 2
INTRODUCTION TO CAPS This section is an introductory section to the Intermediate Phase CAPS. Use your Survival Guide to the Intermediate Phase CAPS as a resource. Activity A: Topics to be covered: Generic CAPS information Assessment Generic timetabling and planning Instructions: Participants should complete this activity in groups of 3. Use the Survival Guide to the Intermediate Phase CAPS as a resource to look up the answers. Read the statement / question and discuss the answer in your group. Write down the answer in the space that has been left for discussion notes. The questions have been developed to stimulate discussion. The facilitator will discuss the questions at the end and clarify any uncertainties. Answer and Discussion Notes 1. What does CAPS stand for? 2. CAPS is not a new curriculum. State whether the above statement is true or false. 3. The Intermediate Phase CAPS will be implemented in 2014. State whether the above statement is true or false. 3
4. There are no more Learning Areas in the Intermediate Phase. State whether the above statement is true or false. 5. Economic & Management Sciences has been integrated into other subjects in the Intermediate Phase. State whether the above statement is true or false. 6. The number of assessments in Intermediate Phase has increased. State whether the above statement is true or false. 7. Which changes in the Intermediate Phase will have the greatest impact on planning? Hint: Look at the time allocation in the Survival Guide. 4
NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO CAPS This section of the workshop focuses on Natural Sciences and Technology Grades 4-6. It provides a taste of what to expect in the Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology textbooks and how they support teaching CAPS. Activity B: Natural Sciences and Technology textbooks Topics to be covered: Generic CAPS Information Criteria for choosing a textbook Timetabling and planning in Natural Sciences and Technology Assessment in Natural Sciences and Technology Instructions: Study the list provided. The list consists of 10 criteria that are considered important to most teachers when choosing a textbook. Rank the importance of the criteria by placing numbers 1 to 10 in the spaces provided. Ranking Sequencing of content according to the CAPS Relevant and up to date content Specific tasks required for Programme of Assessment e.g. tests, projects etc. Annual teaching plan according to the CAPS with term by term overview Teacher s Guide which provides guidance and answers for Programme of Assessment Variety of revision activities Diagrams and pictures to explain content Remedial activities to support those learners that may need extra support Extension activities to support those learners that need expanded opportunities
Activity C: Natural Sciences and Technology Intermediate Phase (Grade 4) These examples are from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4 and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4. Topics to be covered: Grade 4 Strengthening materials Adaptation for different learning environments Instructions: Participants should complete this activity in pairs. Study the extracts taken from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4 and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4. Answer the questions that follow. Questions: 1. Discuss whether the activities in the extracts are possible to do in your classroom situation and if not, how they could be adapted. 2. Discuss the importance of practical activities such as these. 3. Which Natural Sciences and Technology topic does this activity cover? Annual Teaching Plan Grade 4 Natural Sciences and Technology Term Grade 4 1 2 3 4 Living and non- living things Requirements of plants and animals Different structures Animal shelters Properties of materials Combination of materials Strengthening materials Phases of substances Air (gas) Sound Making sound louder Reflected sound Noise pollution Indigenous musical instruments Finding out about space Our place in space Movement 6
Taken from Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4 (page 59) 7
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Taken from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4 (page 70-71) 9
Activity D: Natural Sciences and Technology Intermediate Phase (Grade 5) These examples are from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5 and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5. Topics to be covered: Grade 5 Design a structure to support a load Planning and timing Instructions: Study the extracts from Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5 and Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5. Discuss and answer the questions that follow. Questions: 1. Discuss the amount of time needed to cover the activities and content effectively. 2. Discuss the effectiveness of the learning process for the learners. 3. Which Natural Sciences and Technology topic do these activities cover? Annual Teaching Plan Grade 5 Natural Sciences and Technology Term Grade 5 1 Properties of materials Uses of materials Structure to support a load 2 Energy Energy we can see, hear and feel Energy for moving things Energy systems Machines and mechanisms 3 Moving an object Energy flow and biodiversity Biodiversity of living things 4 Structure of Earth Surface of Earth Rocks Fossils Senses in animals and humans 10
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Taken from Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5 (pages 29-31) 13
Taken from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 5 (page 21) 14
Activity E: Natural Sciences and Technology Intermediate Phase (Grade 6) These examples are from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6. Topics to be covered: Grade 6 Mixtures and solutions Assessment of practical tasks Instructions: Study the extracts from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6. Discuss and answer the questions that follow. Questions: Certain sections of Natural Sciences and Technology require practical assessment tasks. 1. Which of the tasks is a practical task and which are written tasks? 2. Which Natural Sciences and Technology topic do these activities cover? Annual Teaching Plan Grade 6 Natural Sciences and Technology Term Grade 6 Electricity Energy transfers in an electrical circuit system 1 Energy transfer to surroundings Safety and electricity Electrical circuit to solve a problem Term 1 work continued 2 Solar system Life on planet Earth Mixtures, solutions, melting Soluble and insoluble substances 3 Rate of dissolving Environment and water resources Nutrition Health of the planet 4 Animals with skeletons Movement Types of movement/motion 15
Taken from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 (page 105) 16
Taken from Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 (page 95) 17
Taken from Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 (page 112) 18
How Platinum and Day-by-Day Natural Sciences and Technology books can help your teaching At the beginning of the workshop, you were required to rank the importance of the criteria that are considered important to most teachers when choosing a textbook. The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books cover all of these criteria. Sequencing of content according to the CAPS The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books follow the exact sequence of the CAPS. Teachers are able to follow the sequence of the textbook and be confident that they have covered everything required by CAPS and in the correct order. Relevant and up to date content The authors of Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books have ensured that the latest CAPS requirements are covered as well as the latest content required by the subject. Assessment tasks are all relevant to the ages of the learners. Specific tasks required for Programme of Assessment e.g. tests, projects etc. The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books include all the required tasks for the Programme of Assessment and the Teacher s Guide includes all of the guidelines and answers. These can also be used for revision, extension and expanded opportunities. Annual teaching plan according to the CAPS with term-by-term overview The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books follow the exact sequence of the CAPS. They also provide a term planning tool, which assists in annual and quarterly planning. 19
Teacher s Guide which provides guidance and answers for Programme of Assessment The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books both have a Teacher s Guide that provides guidelines on how to use the assessments and how to mark them. Rubrics, memoranda and checklists are also provided where appropriate. Variety of revision activities The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books both provide many different activities, which test knowledge and understanding on a variety of levels. Teachers are able to see the learners understanding of the content matter straight away. These activities are very practical and assess the content in the CAPS. Diagrams and pictures to explain content The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books both have many supporting diagrams and pictures to support the content. They are in full colour with eye- catching photographs. Remedial activities to support those learners that may need extra support The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books have many activities in the chapters as well as revision sections at the end of every topic. The Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology also has remedial worksheets, which accompany the Teacher s Guide. Extension activities to support those learners that need expanded opportunities The Platinum and Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology books have many activities in the chapters as well as revision sections at the end of every topic. The Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology also has extension worksheets, accompany the Teacher s Guide. Day- by- Day components Learner s Book Teacher s Guide with free book of photocopiable worksheets Platinum components Learner s Book Teacher s Guide with free book of photocopiable worksheets for remediation and extension 20
How Platinum and Day-by-Day Natural Sciences and Technology books cover CAPS 21
Taken from Platinum Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4 (page x- xii) 22
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Taken from Day- by- Day Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 4 (page xii- xv ) 24