Pathways Through Science: Making Materials

The "Pathways Through Science" series provides workable strategies for tackling the problem of differentiation. The resouces have been designed to match the NEA/WJEC/ULEAC modular GCSE. They can also be organized for use with any other GCSE programmme. Each of the 13 modules consists of five elements: activities; sourcebook; study guide; commentary; and teacher's guide. The activities provide photocopiable material. Each module is divided into five or six "episodes" comprising a series of related activities. Each episode requires between two and four double periods. The sourcebook is a colour magazine-style book. It provides scientific information and data needed for the activities. Emphasis is placed on the human, social and global contexts for scientific investigation. The study guide acts as the students' map through the module and also their personal record of achievement. Through using the guide students are encouraged to take more responsibility for their own learning. The commentary book contains help, hints and answers and is used by students to support their work in the activities in an independent way.
By making full use of the commentary, students should be able to check out their decisions, responses and outcomes. Finally, the teacher's guide includes technical notes, an annotated version of the students' module map, plus examples of worthwhile routes through each episode for all students, at whatever level they are working.