6 Summary

This unit has explored how to help students raise their own questions, and how this encourages positive attitudes to science and works towards developing a questioning and critical mind. Such activities lead to investigative work, which helps students to think more deeply about the topic and supports them in adjusting their understanding towards currently accepted ideas.

Working in a more interactive way brings many rewards, both for you and the students. For you as a teacher, being more involved in the lesson in an active and enthusiastic way, exploring with your students their ideas and trying to extend their thinking, is more rewarding. Through stimulating their questioning skills, you provide yourself with much more insight into what they already know, and you can be more proactive in supporting their learning. Being respected by you and being asked their ideas mean that students will become more confident and interested in their work, which will raise their achievement.