Developing Language in Primary Science

How can science help to develop speaking, listening, writing and reading skills. How can developing these skills enhance children’s understanding of science?

About. This resource explains the relationship between language and the curriculum. It outlines links between language skills and science, offering examples of science work which could develop speaking and listening, reading, and writing skills. Advice on long-term planning for the development of language skills in science suggests reviewing what you already do, planning for greater emphasis; identifying what else happens in school and evaluating your success. Included are example activities to develop children's use of language in science topics: 'moving things' 'materials'. A further document considers the topic of 'light' as a context for developing language.

Pedagogical content. The resource would be particularly useful for PGCE students thinking about incorporating cross-curricular^(subject) strands, or teachers looking to do the same, either in their own practice or in new curriculum development^(topic) work.

Language development and the use of appropriate vocabulary^(ta) is highlighted as important across the curriculum. Incorporating this consideration into science planning^(ta) is important for meeting the target of developing language. The importance of language and talk in science – including through group work^(ta), and Whole class^(ta) dialogue – is highlighted elsewhere (and in the resource) but includes the ability to explain concepts, understand synthesising ideas (including those from other people and texts), and the need to read and write for different purposes, (including conceptual understanding, data presentation, etc). These are key ideas in communicating the scientific method^(ta)

Resource details
Title	Developing Language in Primary Science
Topic	[[Topics/Literacy|Literacy]],  [[Topics/Curriculum development|Curriculum development]]
Teaching approach	[[Teaching Approaches/Whole class|Whole class]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Language|Language]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Group work|Group work]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Planning|Planning]],  [[Teaching Approaches/Scientific method|Scientific method]]
Learning Objectives	You should be able to: explain the relationship between language use, and the science curriculum give examples of links between language skills and science give examples of activities which develop children's use of language in science consider long term planning for a science curriculum with language development in mind
Subject	[[Resources/Literacy|Literacy]],  [[Resources/Teacher education|Teacher education]],  [[Resources/Primary|Primary]],  [[Resources/Science|Science]],  [[Resources/Cross-curricular|Cross-curricular]]
Age of students / grade	[[Resources/Primary|Primary]]
Related ORBIT Wiki Resources	Primary Science investigation Questioning Techniques in Primary Science Differentiation Developing Progression in Primary Science
Files and resources to view and download	Main document File:Developing Language in Primary Science.doc (WikiText form) Developing language using the topic of 'light' File:Developing language using light.doc (WikiText form) snapshot of files