Each month, we will have an expert guest presenter who will be giving us the benefit of their knowledge and wisdom. We will be covering a vast range of topics in the health, wellness, vitality and lifestyle arenas.

Science, SAT’s and Satsuma’s

Summer is definitely here! Hooray! School children (and teachers!) breathe a sigh of relief. This is because all May they have endured testing. Either ‘Teacher assessment’ or the SAT’s (Standard Attainment Tests). It was announced last month that the government is to scrap the Science tests at age of 11, although still leaving the English and Mathematics in place

So, how does this leave your child? Will this mean that the study of Science is to flounder or will the release of exam pressure encourage their natural curiosity, awe and wonder?. For those of you who have never seen SAT’s Science papers, there are two and they cover a variety of topics including; Sun, Moon, Earth, Habitats, Soil types and setting up experiments. Even at the tender age of 10 and 11 your child is meant to understand the permeable and impermeable nature of different soil structures! Fine if you are living in a quarry or an eco house buried in a forest but for the average urban focused child this kind of learning is very detached from their true interaction with the world.

The Science SAT’s are popular with some schools because it is an easier subject to teach using rote learning. Therefore, any child putting in time to learn certain key phrases; the heavier the x, the lighter the x etc will score highly.

So, is Science important in your child’s development? The answer is very much yes! Particularly Nutrition. With more and more British children becoming obese the science of food – energy – health is critical. “Eat less, move more” is the current government adage. This must filter down to the children. ‘Our bodies’ and ‘Healthy Eating’ is covered but could still be done with more depth. The human aspect of science such as how a simple grasp on how individual actions affect the climate are surely the bedrock to being a truly cooperative member of society? So, leading by example to recycle as much as possible in the home, switch off electrical items not in use etc. This is real, useful science!

Science is everywhere. It is life! Exams are testing memory as much as anything else! So, what can you do to promote a healthy interest in the subject? Talk to your child as you go about your daily lives. “Where do the leaves disappear to?”, “Does eating that cake make you feel calmer or…”, “How do you think Mummy receives messages on her mobile ‘phone?” etc You don’t need to know the answers, discovery is part of the fun!

I for one am relieved that the Science exams at age 11 are going. Having taught Year 6 classes (age 10 and 11) to cover all the science curriculum – filling them with information. Learning the parts of the plant when surely a day exploring the countryside will have naturally brought more understanding of nature? If the learning of Science can be integrated in to normal life it will be second nature to understand it. As a teacher I have at times been exasperated that subjects such as soils etc have been taught through just pictures on an interactive white board! Other teachers have, of course done their best with offering the children ‘the real thing’ to touch feel, smell. I used to bring flowers in for dissection and encourage them to feel the soil with their bare hands, despite “Eer worms!” and “creepy crawlies”! Once on a school trip some of my inner city London children ate their packed lunches in a wood with their hoods up in case insects dropped on their head! Yet in their own territory they were cool and street wise!

The current status of the British state education system is a packed curriculum. Very knowledge based with few chances for actual experience. So, you as a parent/grandparent/friend can so easily bring the real world through in your language and interactions.

As for Satsuma’s, it just rhymed with my alliterative title! Plus they are pretty delicious, healthy and orange (my favourite colour!)

So, keep the questions flowing, engage your child. You are a science teacher and you don’t need any qualifications! Even with the Satsuma (aah, I knew I could use it somewhere!), ask your child; “What are the pips for?”, “Which vitamins are contained in a Satsuma? What part of the body do they help?”

Buy a simple reference book just in case you can’t answer every question! And, of course use the Internet and/or the library. There are so many educational websites, some with little videos such as; BBC Education, Woodlands Junior and many many others. It’s all there for free.

Relax, enjoy the summer and take time to share some of the magic of nature with your child/ren – even if it is the local park. And watch out for the creepy crawlies!

Rebecca Elliott