• Department Vision & Mission

• Science Curriculum Framework

• Topics for P4

• Level Programme Highlights

• Assessment Structure

• Exam Paper Format

• Holistic Assessment

• Tips for Parents

• Useful Websites

• Contact Details

VISION Passion for Science,

Independent and

lifelong learners

MISSION • to provide students with experiences which stimulate their

curiosity about their environment.

• to provide students with opportunities to develop process skills and attitudes necessary for scientific inquiry

• to inspire life-long, independent learners who are passionate about Science.

Science Curriculum Framework

What is scientific inquiry? Scientific inquiry may be defined as the

activities and

processes which scientists and students

engage in to study

the natural and physical world around us.

Through inquiry learning,

students will be able to:

1) Acquire knowledge and understanding

of their natural and physical world based

on investigations.

2) Apply the skills and processes of inquiry.

3) Develop attitudes and values that are

essential to the practice of science.

Topics for P4 2016 Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4

Cycles 1. What is Matter Energy 1.Heat and Temperature

Energy 1. Heat and Temperature

2. Innovation Week *Practical Test

Cycles 1.Life Cycle of some Animals 2. Life Cycle of Plants Systems 3. Plants and their Parts (continued from Systems Activity book used in P3) *Performance-based Assessment

Energy 1. Light and Shadows *Performance-based Assessment

• Innovation Week – Ice Cream Container Design

(Term 2)

• Enrichment Programmes

(Science Enrichment – Heat & Temperature &

Visit to Hydroponics Farm and Butterfly Lodge)

• Hydroponics Lessons

• (As part of Performance-Based PBA- Term 3)

Level

SA1 (35%) SA2 (65%)

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Component Weighting

of SA1

Component Weighting

of SA1

Component Weighting

of SA2

Component Weighting

of SA2

P4

Mock test (NW)

NW:

Non-weighted

Practical

Test

(20m)

100%

Mock test (NW)

PBA

Light

(20m)

10%

Written

Paper

(80m)

PBA

Hydropo

nics

(20m)

10%

Written

Paper

(100m)

80%

• Incremental from start of P4 to end of P4.

This is to allow for gradual adjustment to

the full paper that will be set at PSLE.

• Introduction to the complete PSLE format

only at P4 SA2

• SA1 (1 hour 30 minutes)

– Section A - 24 MCQ (48 marks)

– Section B - 11 Open-ended questions (32

marks)

• SA2 (1 hour 45 minutes – PSLE Format)

– Section A - 28 MCQ (56 marks)

– Section B – 12-13 Open-ended questions (44

marks)

• Performance-based Assessment (PBA)

– Series of assessment conducted over several lessons

– 5 Assessment Components for each term’s PBA

– Assessment components test a combination of

process skills and concepts in the topic learnt.

– Rubrics (detail of assessment components) will be

provided to parents and pupils at the start of the term

• Assesses scientific practical

skills and processes.

• Each station will assess 2-3

different skills.

• Duration of total test (30

minutes)

• 1 question per station (pupils are

given 6 mins at each station to

perform the given tasks)

• * 1 sample question is provided in the next slide.

Sample Question (Q1 part 1): You are given 4 plastic objects labelled

A, B, C and D

The 4 plastic objects have been classified based on a certain characteristic. Think about the possible characteristic and fill in the

headings in the classification chart below. (1 mark)

Objects

A

C

B

D

Sample Question (Q1 part 2):

Classify the 4 plastic objects based on another characteristic. (3 marks)

Objects

Sample Question: You are given 2 leaves labelled A and B

Q1 Observe the two leaves in front of you. Draw the leaf in each of the

space provided. (2 marks)

LEAF A LEAF B

Q2 Based on what you observe, state one difference between the leaves

and state one similarity between them. (2 marks)

Difference: __________________________________________________

Similarity: ___________________________________________________

Science lessons

• Pupils in Primary 4 will have 5 periods of

Science every week.

• Pupils will need to have the following:

1) Science File (green)

2) Science Journal

3) Science Activity Books

4) Science Textbooks

What's in a Science

Journal?

Why do we use Science

Journals? • Journals call for more extended entries than quick writes and are

most successful if used on a daily basis. Both high-structure and

low-structure (e.g. note-taking, reflection) journals can be used in a

science class. Here are some examples of high-structure journal

prompts science teachers use:

• Draw and label the parts of the digestive system.

Arrange the following words into a web that shows their

relationships.

Analyze how you did with today’s experiment. Were you able to

follow the directions? Did the experiment turn out as you had

predicted?

Explain to a younger person (brother, sister, cousin) why it is

important for everyone to understand about systems in our body.

Notes and drawings

– from lessons / your

research

• Help them see Science everywhere. - Highlight the variety of fruits and vegetables at the

supermarket, and discuss how they differ from one

another.

• Build on your child’s interest.

- Encourage your child to read Science magazines and

related books as well as watch Science TV

programmes (e.g., Discovery channel).

• Expose them to scientific knowledge from

other sources: Print and online (AsknLearn

portal)

• Record learning in Science Journals.

• Build a resource library at home to allow your

child to look for answers themselves

• Help your child to develop a routine for

revision and homework.

1. Magazines

• Science Adventures Magazines

• National Geographic Explorer Pioneer & National geographic

Extreme Explorer

• Young Scientists Magazine

• Rick Ranger Junior

• Science Spy

• Discovery Box

2. Literature

• Horrible Science

• List: http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/childrens-science

1. 2014 Primary Science Syllabus -

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/sciences/files/science-primary-2014.pdf

2. National Geographic Kids - http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

3. Discovery Kids - http://kids.discovery.com/

4. List of Science websites for kids - http://gws.ala.org/category/science

5. Discovery Kids - http://discoverykids.com/

6. Websites with tips for Parental Involvement in Science Education -

http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/parents.aspx (American education system

context)

http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/learnscience.html

*This is not an exhaustive list.

• Head of Department – Mrs Eliza Ee

eliza_lokadjaja@moe.edu.sg

• Level Head – Miss Low Mei Yan

low_mei_yan@moe.edu.sg