Science Homework for Key Stage 2

Colin Forster is the primary science team co-ordinator and primary PGCE course leader at the University of Gloucestershire. Vicki Parfitt is an experienced primary school teacher and a member of the primary science team at the University of Gloucestershire. Andrea McGowan is an experienced primary school teacher and a member of the primary English team at the University of Gloucestershire. David Brookes is an illustrator and is a member of the Department of Natural and Social Sciences at the University of Gloucestershire.

Guidance for the teacher Introduction Pedagogy and philosophy Active Homework – the key ideas Following up on the homework Possible follow-up activities Partnership with parents Creating your own active homework Life processes and living things: Years three and four Teeth and eating: types of teeth Teeth and eating: looking after your teeth Helping plants grow well: light Helping plants grow well – growth Devising an investigation: best temperature Moving and growing: bones Moving and growing: muscles and joints Habitats: plants Habitats: food chains Debate: is it right to keep animals in zoos? Life processes and living things: Years five and six Keeping healthy: food types Keeping healthy: breakfast cereals Keeping healthy: exercise Debate: which is most important: a healthy diet or taking regular exercise Lifecycles: plants Interdependence and Adaptation Micro-organisms: types of microbes Micro-organisms: your questions Micro-organisms - composting Devising an investigation: best conditions for compost Materials and their properties: Years three and four Characteristics of materials: what would you use …? Rocks and soils: House materials Rocks and soils: erosion Rocks and soils: volcanoes Devising an investigation: strongest rock Keeping warm (thermal insulators): comparing materials Keeping warm (thermal insulators): slowing the transfer of heat energy Keeping warm (thermal insulators): insulation in the home Solids, liquids and separating: teabags and sieving? Solids, liquids and separating: sieving Materials and their properties: Years five and six Gases around us: gases you know Gases around us: is air real stuff? Debate: driving versus using the bus Changing State: liquid and gas Changing state: solid and liquid Changing state: evaporation Dissolving: mixing solids with water Dissolving: reversing the process Devising an investigation: best conditions for dissolving Reversible and non-reversible change: mixing and heating Reversible and non-reversible change: your questions Reversible and non-reversible change: the water cycle Physical properties: Years three and four Magnets and springs: true and false Magnets and springs: paper springs Magnets and springs: searching for magnets and springs at home Light and shadows: opaque, translucent and transparent Light and shadows: changing shadows Friction: slipping and gripping Friction: reducing friction Physical properties: Years five and six Earth, Sun, Moon: day and night Earth, Sun, Moon: phases of the moon Debate: is space exploration good use of money Changing sounds: sound travels Changing sounds: sound travels more slowly than light Changing sounds: directing and collecting sounds Changing sounds: changing pitch Forces in action: building structures Forces in action: friction in sport Forces in action: a thought experiment Devising an investigation: shoe with best grip How we see things: reflected light How we see things: pupils responding to light How we see things: your questions