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AC ADEMIC
W H I N C H AT
Science
S C I E N C E R E P O RT WORDS BY
Mr Mike Mallalieu, Head of Science
OVERVIEW/HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR This year has presented us with another unique experience, bringing with it both challenges and rewards! The Prep School Science Dept has reviewed and adopted new practices and the boys have continued to respond well to new structures and policies. Although teaching was affected by the measures put in place around COVID-19 to a degree, generally boys and staff were, impressively, able to carry out practical work to complement other teaching strategies.
The majority of the Spring Term was spent with online lessons. Science staff used a variety of approaches with staff teaching at home and at school. Some even used the laboratories and equipment to demonstrate experiments to promote engagement and pique interest. At home the boys were encouraged to do some practical work e.g. investigating production of cupcakes and effect of altering an ingredient. When we returned to school for the final 3
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weeks of the Spring Term, many of the lessons featured practical work to catch up on lost opportunities.
I N N O VAT I O N S
In a year of blended learning, lots of innovations have been implemented into the Science Department’s teaching and learning portfolio. Several quiz-based learning packages to include brainPop and Educake have been completed that should make pre-assessments periods diverse and more enjoyable. An exciting collaboration opportunity was co-ordinated by Mr Mallalieu and Mr Beale where the Prep School boys were able to attend some online lectures given by Upper School 6th Formers. These entertaining and informative talks included one on ‘Brood Parasites: a species arms race’ given by Hugh Halsey and ‘Reef-keeping, including the anatomy of coral, water chemistry, relationships between organisms, and a broader look at the reef keeping hobby itself’ given by James Deardon. The Science department introduced boys to
a wide range of STEM materials which pupils could access outside of the classroom. For example, www.zooniverse.org/projects is a website that encourages boys to engage in scientific people-powered research. And most notably, new microscope cameras have been introduced to the classrooms. This has provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils to view microscopic organisms on slides and from pond water on the “big screen”. This has helped them to see what they should be looking at and how to properly focus etc.
COMPETITIONS
Via the Weekly Bulletin, boys were given the opportunity to enter a competition run by Cambridge Science Centre encouraging entrants to consider how they would make a difference to their future community.
N OTA B L E S U C C E S S E S
The Animal Care Club was able to continue successfully, albeit with different arrangements and it has remained a popular club. The Bubble system has enabled boys to continue to attend throughout the majority of year groups, with over 80 boys attending regularly to care for; Reptiles including a Royal Python, 2 x Corn snakes, Crested and Leopard Gecko, 2 x Bearded Dragons. Our fabulous Guinea pigs and gerbils x 18 and lastly a range of Marine and fresh water
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