AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

1

AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

LEVEL 3LEVEL 3

2

AF4 – Using investigative approaches : LEVEL 3

Teacher’s notes

• He identified some but not all items of equipment from a list provided, and gave valid reasons for his selection. Pupil B, with support from the worksheet format, showed understanding of a ‘fair test’, although only two fuels were tested. Accurate and relevant whole number measurements were made. As shown in one of the typed tables, Pupil B recognised and communicated the purpose of heat mats as safety equipment.

3Science APP standards file: Pupil B p.9

AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

LEVEL 4LEVEL 4

4

AF4 – Using investigative approaches: LEVEL 4

Teacher’s notes• Pupil R made a selection from the equipment provided and she also recognised

the need to use the same quantity of acid each time, thus working with the concept of a fair test. However, she stated that she would change “the different acids” and would keep the “amount of tablet” the same in each case, which is not what she actually did. She made some accurate measurements when carrying out the practical work. She also made her own initial suggestions during a discussion about controlling risk, and acted on these.

5 Science APP standards file: Pupil R p.6

AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

LEVEL 5LEVEL 5

6

AF4 – Using investigative approaches: LEVEL 5

Teacher’s notes

• She made a suggestion that measurements should be repeated three times ‘for accuracy’ and, given the difficulty in judging the time taken for the water samples to freeze, this is a valid suggestion, although it was not carried out.

• She was able to work safely by controlling obvious risk, without guidance, to remind her of standard laboratory expectations.

7Science APP standards file: Pupil S p.7

AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

LEVEL 6LEVEL 6

8

AF4 – Using investigative approaches: LEVEL 6

Teacher’s notes

• Pupil J identified the significant variables and, with due experimentation, chose a suitable ammeter to match the current range. Although limited with the number of resistors available, she chose an appropriate range, and appropriate numbers and values for her measurements. She independently recognised and took action on familiar risks.

9Science APP standards file: Pupil J p.2

AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

LEVEL 7LEVEL 7

10

AF4 – Using investigative approaches: LEVEL 7

Teacher’s notes

• Pupil D formulated a question that could be answered realistically in the time available through a practical investigation of his own devising, and identified the key variables before proceeding to a sound process of reliable data collection. He worked with an appropriate and consistent level of precision, rounding times to the nearest tenth of a second, and repeated measurements to calculate averages. He was not required to provide a risk assessment, but demonstrated good working practice.

11Science APP standards file: Pupil D p.5

AF4 – Using investigative AF4 – Using investigative approachesapproaches

LEVEL 8LEVEL 8

12

AF4 – Using investigative approaches: LEVEL 8 (1)

13

AF4 – Using investigative approaches: LEVEL 8 (1)

14Science APP standards file: Pupil P p.14

Teacher’s notes• Pupil P developed her own strategy to investigate the level of use and purchase of organic products, and chose a data

collection process that was able to produce useful data, consulting with the teacher on safety issues and limiting her survey to known people.