INTERNATIONAL
PRIMARY SCIENCE EDUCATION Conference (PSEC)
No Boundaries. No Barriers.

The Primary Science Teaching Trust hosted its inaugural International Conference in Belfast, from 9th - 11th June, 2016.
The three-day event took place in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall and was attended by over 350 delegates from across the UK, including a number of international teachers. Over 60 workshops, seminars and presentations were led by world-class teachers, academics, educationalists and four outstanding keynote speakers; Professor Alice Roberts, Dr. Stuart Brown, Professor Danielle George and Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock. The Conference not only attracted a lot of attention within the region, see SYNCNI, Belfast Live, the Belfast Times and BBC Radio Ulster (32 minutes into the John Toal show), but also from outer space with a special tweet from Tim Peake!
Even if you were unable attend the Conference, you can still access the inspiring and engaging sessions on offer, by navigating to the tabs below and downloading the presentations and files. We recommend you also scroll through the Twitter feed from the Conference for even more ideas shared by our delegates using #PSTTBelfast. To find out more about the extensive workshops, seminars and research in practice sessions, download the Conference Brochure here.
The conference was designed to break down barriers and boundaries that stand in the way of excellent primary science teaching and from the feedback received so far, we believe we have helped and inspired teachers to reflect on their own practice and keep up their fantastic work in science.
“Everyone involved was enthusiastic and approachable throughout, and I can't be the only one who went home bursting with ideas.”
“In the present climate of educational uncertainty and change it gave teachers a chance to spend time discussing and reflecting on various aspects of science education. We also had the opportunity to enrich our own subject knowledge which will definitely impact on our teaching and ultimately the children.”
“Wonderful conference – thank you!”
“The conference was fantastic and all the workshops, seminars and keynote speeches I attended were outstanding. It was also a real privilege to be able to present at the conference.”
Visit our International Conference Website for more information on Edinburgh 2019.
Delegate, Belfast 2016
Possibly the best UK based type educational thing I can remember in a while.
GALLERY
THURSDAY SESSION MATERIALS
Click on the links below to download some of the session presentations delivered at the conference.
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Is Darwin the missing link? [13.15MB]
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Let's Go! Science Trails [9.18MB]
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Primary Science for All - SEN [2.36MB]
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Growing Music [15.80MB]
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Rocks and fossils of the Jurassic Coast [7.11MB]
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Immersive professional development with primary science teachers, scientists and science educators [1.34MB]
Developing teachers as leaders of science in primary schools [848.61kB]
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Microscopes in cross-curricular education [7.06MB]
FRIDAY SESSION MATERIALS
Click on the links below to download some of the session presentations delivered at the conference.
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Using images to inspire science discussion [77.88MB]
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Using crunch kits for assessment [16.56MB]
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Teacher Assessment in Primary Science - TAPS Project [3.49MB]
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Ready, Steady, Tinker
Think Physics [1.41MB]
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Promoting language through enquiry [3.11MB]
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Specific question types in teacher assessment 1 [77.58kB]
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Specific question types in teacher assessment 2 [2.54MB]
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Specific question types in teacher assessment 3 [714.09kB]
KS2/3 transition and enquiry [793.71kB]
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Chain Reaction [101.27MB]
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Chain Reaction - Energy Transfer Lesson [16.47MB]
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Chain reaction challenge sheet [859.67kB]
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Chain reaction helpful instructions [263.36kB]
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STEM Networking [197.10kB]
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STEM Networking (inheritance and environment ideas) [62.50kB]
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STEM Networking (Tim Peake project ideas) [73.50kB]
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Curiouser and Curiouser [98.89MB]
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Curiouser: All-in-One Test Rubric Bridge Challenge [45.00kB]
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Curiouser: Essential Features of Inquiry Questioning [21.00kB]
Curiouser: EYFS KS1 Junk Recycle card and tube bridge [147.45kB]
Curiouser: Floating Pontoon Bridge Rubric [53.48kB]
Curiouser: Newspaper, pasta sweeties, sticks and twigs bridge Rubric Bridge Challenge [52.57kB]
Curiouser: Zip Wire Bridge Rubric [57.29kB]
SATURDAY SESSION MATERIALS
Click on the links below to download some of the session presentations delivered at the conference.
What happens next? [2.03MB]
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Light: think it, talk it, be it [2.80MB]
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Thinking, doing and talking science [8.17MB]
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Earth,moon and the International Space Station [8.73MB]
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Earth,moon and the International Space Station lesson ideas [26.39kB]
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