Helen Harden

Today has been a fascinating experience.Sharing insights into science education and hearing back about the future challenges facing the chemical industries.

KS3 has the absolutely critical building blocks of understanding and I would say it is essential for later GCSE work but I would agree that doing it "for GCSE" is not necessarily the framing for it. That was the reason for my original quest... However the curriculum should lay foundations.

Is the problem that the current KS4 does not give the impression to you of understanding the world?

Have you seen the new BEST primary chem resource? Maybe the four key concepts (two currently published) for age 7-11 may help show understanding key for moving on?

I am going to have to think about this further because from a curriculum perspective each stage should lead to the next...but that shouldn't be a bad thing. Along the way pupils learn about the world at a level appropriate to where they are at.

This diagram really intrigues me. May I ask if this is based on curriculum or what teachers ten to perceive about the purpose of each key stage?

An activity in itself on a rainy day!

Calling all ECT ASE members! Want a free science education book? ow.ly/SrOq50VCm3U

We’re giving away Primary Science in a Nutshell & Grappling with Graphs to the first 3 ECTs who send a 1-min video sharing how ASE has helped you. Email your video to comms@ase.org.uk

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You have a good selection of suitable LEGO bricks. Great model and explanation.

Thank you for making me smile!

We are entering the last week of this important survey.

Please do all you can to push the survey with your networks as well as answering yourself. We particularly need more responses from Wales, Scotland and NI to make by nation analysis possible. The deadline is 7th April! 🔗 ow.ly/chk550VpJF0

Compounds: The importance of emergent thinking Featured article T alanquer, V. (2008). Students’ predictions about the sensory properties of chemical compounds: Additive versus emerge...

New post from TheSciEd Distillery! Over 90% of students in one study thought that if you react a blue substance with a yellow substance, the resulting product would be green. Overcoming this requires a shift from additive to emergent thinking. thescieddistillery.blogspot.com/2025/03/comp...

Thanks...I was concerned I had missed something but still seems very open.

Is there any information anywhere on the sort of content this would include? I am puzzled by the arts comment at the end of the article.

A microscope image of a nematode with green moss in the background.

Second moss squeeze so pretty good. Found a nematode too

I microscope images of a tardigrade.

Today I finally got out my microscope and went on a Moss Safari. My aunt (retired biology teacher) loved it and we were both jubilant to find a tardigrade (in fairness she found it!) Thank you for the info @mosssafari.bsky.social

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This is really interesting as it forms the structure of our Spotlight on Teaching articles in @associationscied.bsky.social 's science education journal SSR. We do not expect full action research , rather teacher reflection on an implemented change.

Thank you for articulating so clearly. Much appreciated. When you are bombarded with online info it is sometimes hard to clarify your own thoughts! I have never included as phys change and was surprised by what I was reading!

@chatchemistry.bsky.social Help!

I am seeing lots of online sources categorise bending/cutting as physical changes. The curriculum focus here at age 9-11 is only on reversible changes of state/ mixing/dissolving but should bending/cutting be included as irreversible physical change? Where can I find a trustworthy definition?

Acids and bases: A curriculum in layers Featured article De Vos, W., & Pilot, A. (2001). Acids and bases in layers: The stratal structure of an ancient topic. Journal of Chemic...

A new post from the SciEd Distillery. This one gives food for thought for anyone involved in chemistry curriculum development and anyone who uses the word "acid" in their teaching. #chatchemistry thescieddistillery.blogspot.com/2025/02/acid...

Podcast listeners may also be interest to read @drgarethbates.bsky.social open access article on the same topic in @associationscied.bsky.social 11-19 scied journal SSR ow.ly/hZJ750UTSlY

I was really excited when @drgarethbates.bsky.social proposed this as an article for @associationscied.bsky.social 11-19 SciEd journal SSR. Well worth a read!

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@katesutton70.bsky.social So wonderful to be followed by someone I know and respect rather than the random accounts I have been getting recently! Have been feeling a bit discouraged on here but I think if I post more again I can get the positive interactions back! I have tightly curated feeds!

Just gazed at this from my front door!

I've actually been to Nanaimo!