Teaching Primary Science: Physics
Enhance your physics subject knowledge for teaching primary science and discover practical activities for your physics lessons.
- Duration3 weeks
- Weekly study3 hours
- 100% onlineTry this course for free
Teaching Primary Science: Physics
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Help your primary students to excel in primary school physics
To teach primary science effectively teachers must have sound subject knowledge. However, many primary teachers are not science subject experts.
On this course, you’ll examine the key subject knowledge areas within the physics element of the primary science curriculum.
You’ll develop your own knowledge of physics and discover practical activities to use in your classroom to explain physics concepts to your students.
You’ll also consider common misconceptions children may have and how to identify and help your students overcome them.
Syllabus
Week 1
Understanding light and sound
Getting Started
Welcome to the course. We start by establishing what physics is and where it fits in the primary science curriculum.
Challenging misconceptions
Throughout this course, we will look at some of the common misconceptions children have, and how we can address these with hands on activities and careful use of language.
Light
We explore some of common misconceptions that children might have related to the topic of light, with practical ideas that allow children to investigate their ideas.
Sound
Getting hands-on with musical instruments can help children to explore and challenge their own thoughts and ideas about sound.
Week 2
Forces
Introduction to the week
This week we will be looking at forces, thinking about what children need to know, any misconceptions that they may have and how we can support correct understanding.
Subject knowledge: forces
We look at how we describe the forces acting on an object, including friction and gravity.
Misconceptions about forces
Discover the typical misconceptions children have around forces.
Eliciting Misconceptions
You can use diagnostic activities to reveal children's understanding of forces. We start by looking at the use of annotated diagrams.
Reconstructing the learning
See how to address common misconceptions through challenging children’s ideas. Here we look at how to demonstrate concepts like air resistance and gravity.
Week 3
Electricity
Introduction to the week
Welcome to the final week of the course. This week we'll be looking at electricity.
Subject knowledge: electricity
In the following steps we look at the science behind electricity. We will examine what electricity is, and explore electrical conductors and insulators.
Misconceptions about electricity
Discover the typical misconceptions children have around electricity.
Eliciting Misconceptions
Discover how to find out if children think that only metals conduct electricity, cells go flat because the electricity runs out and that components in a circuit get more electricity if they are closer to the cell.
Reconstructing the learning
We take a look at three practical activities to help children to develop their understanding of electricity.
Reviewing your professional development
Review your professional development and plan your next steps to sustain and develop the way you plan for learning.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify the importance of good subject knowledge when teaching primary science.
- Develop personal subject knowledge of physics.
- Apply subject knowledge of physics to class teaching of pupils aged 5-11 years old.
- Explore practical activities to teach scientific concepts in the primary curriculum.
- Identify common misconceptions children may have in primary science concepts.
- Develop teaching strategies to identify and overcome children’s misconceptions.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for primary teachers and trainee teachers for primary education (pupils aged 5-11 years).
It will also be useful for teaching assistants looking to develop their physics subject knowledge.
The English National curriculum will be referred to, but teachers will be able to apply what they learn to their own curricula.
Who will you learn with?
I am currently a Professional Development Leader at the National STEM Learning Centre in Primary STEM. I have been a teacher for 14 years, teaching classes from FS2 to Year 6.
I spent 10 years working as a primary classroom teacher, 7 as a science subject leader. I’ve also supported schools as a leading science teacher before joining STEM learning as a primary specialist.
I have been a primary school teacher for 13 years and work at Clifton With Rawcliffe Primary, York. Currently, I also work 3 days a week at the National STEM Learning Centre in the Primary PDL Team.
Who developed the course?
National STEM Learning Centre
The National STEM Learning Centre provides world-class professional development activities and resources to support the teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
Learner reviews
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Available until 1 Apr 2021. T&Cs apply.
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