Learning is something that goes on all the time. For children, learning happens at home, at school, with friends, with teachers and with you the child's parents.

The SATs tests are snapshot tests of what your child has learned in school over two or more years. To help your child prepare for the SATs you need to support the work done in school on a regular basis. 'A little help and often' is the best way to help your child at home.

Key Points

1. Make learning at home interesting and fun. Everyone learns better when he or she is happy.
2. Talk to your child about what they have done in school so you have a starting point.
3. Encourage children to ask questions about everyday science in the home, e.g.. Why do we use a wooden spoon for stirring hot things? Why is it easier to walk on a carpet than on a polished floor? How does a microwave work? Why do we keep some plants near a window?
4. Try to solve problems together. Use reference books, CD-ROMS and the Internet to help you.
5. Resist giving your child the answer to a problem. Encourage them to think through the problem with you so that they begin to understand why things happen. This will help them solve similar problems themselves in the future.
6. Visit Science Museums or exhibitions to encourage your child's interests. Look out for local events during National Science Week (usually held in March each year).
7. Use computers, CD-ROMs, games, calculators or other resources that can help. These all add to the fun of learning.
8. A good, children's encyclopaedia (book or CD-ROM) is useful to have at home. Other reference books can be used or borrowed from the library.
9. Record some of the Science education programmes shown on the TV during the day. Watch these with your child as a starting point for a discussion or as an experiment you can do together.

The Exercises

Remember this Key Stage covers four school years so you should not expect your child to be able to tackle all the questions if they are in Years 3 or 4 or 5.

Print out the questions to use away from the computer.

Go to the Exercises

The Answers

Go to the Exercises

Resources

Longmans Test Practice Kits
For KS2 Science - Pub. Longmans

Primary Science - Pub. Nape

Children and Computers - Pub. NAPE

Helping Children at Home - Pub. NAPE

CD-ROMs

SATs Tests: Science - Europress

Encyclopedia of Science - Dorling Kindersley

Encyclopedia of Nature - Dorling Kindersley

Encyclopedia of Space & the Universe - Dorling Kindersley

The Way Things Work - Dorling Kindersley

The Ultimate Human Body - Dorling Kindersley

Earth Quest - Dorling Kindersley

Pinball Science - Dorling Kindersley

Encarta: Family Encyclopaedia - Pub Microsoft

Suppliers and Publishers

NAPE
Queens Building, Barrack Road, Northampton, NN2 6AF
Tel: 01604 36326, Fax: 01604 36328

LONGMANS
Web site http://www.awl-he.com/studyguides/
Check out the Parents Page for advice and info about Test Kits

DORLING KINDERSLEY 1 Horsham Gates, North Street, Horsham RH13 5PJ, Tel. 01403 833200
Web site http://www.dk.com

Web Links

The BBC Learning Station
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/schools/
This is a service for children, teachers and parents at school and at home.

Schools On-line Science
http://www.shu.ac.uk/schools/sci/sol/contents.htm
A useful site on its own with links to other sites on its library page.

Science at Home
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Science/
Ideas for helping your child with Science from the US Department of Education. Activities include Activities in the Home and Activities in the Community'.

NAPE
http://www.nape.org.uk/
NAPE is an association that promotes a partnership between parents, teachers, school governors, inspectors, education officers and entire school communities. It produces a range of information books and advice for parents.

You will find other Web Links on Learning Exchange at BTHomeCampus