Holme Grange School's Tom Greenwood shares six steps to maximise the impact of your practical science lessons.
Science is more than just memorising facts and following instructions. True scientific thinking requires critical analysis, problem-solving, and creativity. Practical science provides the perfect platform for developing these skills, pushing students beyond basic understanding and into the realm of higher-order thinking.
Why challenge matters in science education
Practical science sits at the peak of Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001), requiring students not just to remember and understand but to apply, analyse, evaluate, and create. These skills are essential for developing scientifically literate individuals who can tackle real-world problems with confidence and insight.
Steps to maximizing the impact of practical science
To truly challenge students and develop their higher-order thinking, practical science lessons must be carefully structured. Here’s how:
Step 1: Solve real-world problems
Practical science activities should be grounded in real-world applications. When students see the relevance of their experiments, their engagement increases. For example, testing water purity or designing a simple renewable energy system connects scientific principles to everyday life.
Step 2: Get the groups right
Collaboration is key in scientific exploration. Thoughtful grouping of students – pairing diverse skill levels or encouraging peer mentoring – can enhance problem-solving and communication skills.
Step 3: Maintain a relentless focus on variables
From Year 5 to Year 11, students should develop a keen understanding of variables. This means recognising independent, dependent, and control variables and understanding their importance in experimental design.
Step 4a: Leave out a variable
By removing a key variable from an experiment, students are forced to think critically about the design and purpose of their investigation. They must determine what’s missing and how it affects the outcome.
Step 4b: Omit the plan
Instead of providing a step-by-step method, challenge students to devise their own experimental plans. This pushes them to apply their understanding of scientific concepts and fosters creativity in problem-solving.
Step 5: Analyse data like a pro
Teaching students to collect, visualise, and interpret data is crucial. Using AI tools to display class results can make data analysis more engaging and accessible. By linking their findings back to the research question, students develop deeper analytical skills.
Step 6: When practicals go wrong (or right!)
Failure is an integral part of scientific discovery. Encouraging students to reflect on unexpected results – whether positive or negative – teaches resilience, adaptability, and critical thinking.
Bonus step: Harness the power of a Science Challenge Club
A Science Challenge Club can provide a platform for students to explore scientific questions beyond the curriculum. Such clubs foster independent thinking and offer opportunities for students to work on long-term investigative projects, deepening their understanding and enthusiasm for science.
Final thoughts: why practical science is essential
Engaging students in hands-on science doesn’t just make lessons more interesting – it equips them with crucial skills:
- Critical thinking: encourages deeper questioning and problem-solving.
- Collaboration: strengthens teamwork and communication.
- Real-world problem solving: helps students connect theory to practice.
As educators, we can design activities that challenge high-achieving students, encourage independent experiment design, and foster strong analytical skills. By doing so, we prepare students not only for exams but for real-world scientific challenges.
The future of science lies in the hands of the next generation. Let’s ensure they have the skills to think critically, innovate boldly, and explore fearlessly.
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