Aly Austin used TAPS Focused Assessment activities to explore recording of results with her P3 pupils (age 6-7).

For a ‘Drops on a coin’ activity, the children counted how many drops of liquid would fit on a coin until the liquid spilled over. They tried water, salt water, coffee and sugar water. For this investigation, the children were asked to record their own results. This meant that Aly could see how systematic the children were being in their investigating and recording. She found that the majority were able to make their own record, but that clarity varied, so support with recording in tables would be a useful next step.

On a different occasion, the class explored a ‘Dunlop balls’ investigation. They designed how to measure the distance balls travelled when let go from the top of a ramp. They tested a tennis ball, a hockey ball, a table tennis ball, a bouncy ball and a marble.  The class discussed fair testing and the children selected how they would measure the distance the ball travelled, with many of the children choosing their own feet as a non-standard measure, provoking a discussion about comparison of results.

By giving the children choice about an element of the investigation, Aly was able to elicit children’s ideas and identify next steps.

PCP mentor, Newhill Primary School, Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Aly explains further in a video – copy and paste this into a new tab: https://youtu.be/5VRsJZyAQbs