Science & World Problems Lesson Plan

In a thought-provoking lesson designed for Primary 5-7 students, the central question posed is "Will science fix the world's problems?" The lesson aims to engage young minds in considering the significant impact of science on the world and to encourage them to think critically about its potential to address future challenges. The learning objectives are twofold: firstly, to reflect on the contributions science has made to our health, our planet, and various fields of human endeavour; and secondly, to speculate on what science might achieve in the years to come. The lesson plan caters to all learners, with supporting materials for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) pupils and challenge tasks to stretch more able students.

The lesson commences with a brief review of the previous term's topic before moving into a starter activity where students, in pairs, discuss their understanding of science. This segues into an exploration of the week's VoteTopic, which introduces the concept of science as a problem-solving tool. Students then actively engage in an exercise that illustrates the breadth of scientific work and its importance. The class continues with an interactive segment where students evaluate various scientific accomplishments and express their opinions using hand gestures. Finally, the lesson encourages students to think about the future, as they consider hypothetical headlines and whether such scenarios could become reality. The session culminates with a whole-class vote, where students weigh the arguments and cast their votes on the central question, integrating democratic practice into their learning experience.