Explorify logo Homepage
  • Why Explorify?
  • Teacher support
  • Log in
  • Sign up free Sign up
  • Explorify logo Homepage
  • Why Explorify?
  • Teacher support
  • Login
Science teaching support

Top 5 tips for getting to know your class

Welcome to your new class! We’ve got some tips to help you get to know the children on an individual level but also assess the dynamics and social skills of the class as a whole.  

Share

  • Share via email

As you embark on a new school year with a new class, you need to understand the skills and understanding they are bringing with them, so you can start to make the curriculum work for them as quickly as possible. Follow these 5 tips to get to know your class:

  1. First impressions count! Use starter activities such as Have You Ever, Odd One Outs or Zoom In, Zoom Outs to get your children talking. You can use this to find out what the children already know and track the vocabulary the children are using. 

  2. Use Have You Evers at the beginning of your science topic to find out what they know but also to introduce the topic from their viewpoint, making them the experts. This will help you to create a more bespoke medium-term plan that caters to the needs of all your children. It will help to get those children who do not engage, or see themselves as 'science-y' more involved in your lessons, so that they see science as something for them.

  3. Find out what questions they have about the upcoming topic. Often, the children have already developed links about science and the world. Their curiosity is the perfect assessment of learning tool and can help take children beyond the curriculum objectives. 

  4. Do lots of hands-on activities. The Take it further sections of the Have You Ever activities will give you some ideas. You’ll soon discover the children who have great ideas and working scientifically skills. This knowledge will help you maintain a harmonious balance of personalities within a group so that everyone is contributing effectively. 

  5. Let them get to know you and what you enjoy about science too. Sharing your passions and areas of interest or expertise will spark passion from the children and allow you to go on a journey together.

Last updated 29th June 2023

Share

  • Share via email

Did you find this article useful?

More from Science teaching support

View all
What are the national curriculum expectations for science?

With a plethora of online resources and schemes of work available to primary teachers today, it can be easy to lose sigh...

Read now
Getting to grips with inheritance

Inheritance is a topic that many teachers feel a bit anxious teaching about. Read our guide and you might realise that you know a...

Read now

Other Teacher support:

How to use Explorify Helpful reads What's new Science leader toolkit Downloads

Join Explorify today to take your class on an exciting science adventure!

We use cookies to make Explorify even more awesome for you. Find out more.

Explorify logo

About Explorify

  • How to use Explorify
  • Our story
  • Partners
  • Why Explorify?

Teacher support

  • Downloads
  • Helpful reads
  • Science leader toolkit
  • Science teaching support

Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Privacy and Terms of Use
  • What’s new?
bett award winner 2024

Stem Learning logo Primary Science Teaching Trust logo

Explorify Staffroom on Facebook Explorify on Twitter Explorify on Instagram Explorify on Linkedin Explorify on Tiktok

Powered by STEM Learning and the Primary Science Teaching Trust

Wellcome Trust Wellcome Trust Funded by Wellcome Grant number 223594/Z/21/Z