Keeping the spark alive
Published: 3 February 2020
In our 2018/19 cycle of Phizzi CPD, more than 540 teachers and teaching assistants from more than 440 schools across the Ogden partnership network took part in training days on the topic of electricity. Alongside a day of subject-specific training, each school received a teacher guide with 10 investigations and a Phizzi Electricity box with the resources needed for classroom practical work.
We have had really positive feedback on the impact that the Phizzi electricity CPD and resources have had in the classroom: partnerships have been telling us how much their pupils are enjoying deepening their learning through the 10 enquiries and how the enquiries are helping teachers to focus on developing their pupils’ working scientifically skills.
We want to keep that spark alive! Our new Phizzi focus on electricity can be found on our resources page, suggests further ways to provide opportunities for your learners to engage with the topic of electricity.
- Find out how pupils can link new learning to their everyday lives.
- Get ideas on how pupils can apply new learning through a variety of creative projects.
- Learn about the pros and cons of using models to help your pupils understand the abstract ideas associated with electric circuits.
- Explore how the topic of electricity can be used as a context for developing skills in mathematics.
- Discover how the electricity topic can be used to inspire reading and writing in English.
If you have not taken part in Phizzi Electricity CPD, our Phizzi focus will give you a great introduction to the topic and just some of the resources that are available on our website to support your teaching. Including Ogden Trust research cards, games, activities and practicals.
We love to see our resources in action! If you are using the Phizzi electricity investigations in your classroom or any of our resources, please share your stories. (@ogdentrust)
“I was lucky enough to take part in the hugely engaging Phizzi Electricity training alongside science teachers from the Isle of Wight Partnership. The Phizzi Electricity boxes have proved hugely successful across all year groups in our school, who have used them to develop problem-solving skills and scientific enquiry. The boxes enabled me to run lessons with ease, as I had access to the detailed lesson plans and was then able to have the resources ready in a matter of minutes. At a time when science opportunities may be lacking, these aspects of the Phizzi boxes are really important because they do not negatively affect workload and allow the children to be really successful. Both I and the children were delighted to have enough equipment that worked and due to these high quality resources, behaviour improved, and the children could work more successfully in their groups. The children also took great pride in using the guide to ensure all the equipment was stored in the correct quantities and slots in each box; this simple touch gave them a sense of responsibility and made tidying up so much easier! We have loved the Phizzi Electricity boxes on the Isle of Wight!”
