Science and communication difficulties at P level 6

At P level 6 making generalisations is a challenge: for example understanding that birds have feathers and can fly, but not everything that flies has feathers. The vocabulary around observing change and identifying appliances that use electricity will need support, as will understanding these concepts.

Read the section on communication difficulties that applies across subject areas and levels for an explanation of the main issues and strategies to use in each case.

You can:

• Follow the advice for the other P levels around keeping vocabulary clear, in stages and with visual clues and practical examples
• To help the pupil understand generalisation, refer to previous practical experience with visual clues
• Try to encourage as much practical work as possible so that concepts can develop through experience. Consistent experience will help generalisations to form
• To support the pupil in sorting materials according to a single criterion make sure that there is practice in a very obvious criterion, such as colour, or shape before the pupil moves on to less obvious sorting – such as wood/plastic. Use as much sensory input as possible, encouraging the pupil to work from real examples that they can feel, which will hep develop concepts