Method Writing Skills For Science

Do your students struggle to write their method for their science experiments? Maybe they just have not had a lot of experience writing a science lab method.

I have the same issues with my students, especially in KS3, this is a totally new style of writing than what they are used to!

To combat this, I have designed these worksheets that scaffold the process and build up student skills. I promise you, you will see some amazing improvements if you follow these simple steps!

• Give them some writing rules.
• Show them what a bad one looks like (and model why it is bad).
• Show them what a good one looks like (and model why it is good).
• Get them to review some poorly written and well written methods - allowing them to start to see what makes a good method.
• Now start them writing by asking them to turn a series of diagrams into a written method following the rules.
• Finally, they get to go solo! Get them to write a method from scratch without all the previous scaffolding (obviously they can look back at the rules and the examples of good methods to help them out if they need it!)

The quality of my students’ written methods has vastly improved and, more importantly, my student CONFIDENCE is soaring when we write methods! Something they would avoid in the past, not knowing where to start.

So, what exactly do you get included in this resource?

• Bell-ringers x1 & exit tickets x2 (for you to choose which is most appropriate)
• Rules for writing a method (printer friendly copy for students and a colour copy that could be printed as a poster or shared digitally)
• Reviewing 2 methods – teacher modelled example highlighting and annotating what are the pros and cons of each method (according to the rules)
• Reviewing 2 methods – students to complete independently
• Turning lab diagrams into a method – students use the sequenced images and turn them into a logical method
• Students write their own method for making their favourite sandwich!
• Peer assessment forms for students to assess each other’s sandwich method.

If you would like more science teaching ideas and tips, please check out my blog. I spend a lot of time researching each blog and teaching strategy to provide the best high quality information for teachers everywhere.
You can find the link in my TES shop!