Science and visual impairment at P level 6

There are increased challenges at P level 6 in identifying distinctive features of living things, observing changes and therefore making generalisations.

Begin by reading about the main challenges for visually impaired children across subject areas and suggestions for inclusion. 

You can

• Try working with live animals. Visit a zoo or wildlife park where there are petting areas and use recordings of animal sounds. Focus on describing features of animals using vocabulary that does not depend on sight for example the noise they make, whether they have fur or feathers – the pupil can feel examples of these.
• Help the pupil to identify aspects of their environment, such crunching underfoot as they walk, what the ground feels like and the smells around them (help them identify what the smells are from).
• Use a moon writer to draw simple outlines of animals. Glue feathers onto a bird outline, fur onto an animal, or scaly sequins onto a fish.
• Use touch to observe change before and after. Use:
• Cake mix before and after cooking,
• Ice melting (be careful not to touch it for too long)
• Glue drying
• Warming water