The use of search engines in the teaching of ‘Classification’ in Key Stage 3 Science

As a science teacher who also teaches Year 7 information and communication technology (ICT), I have developed a variety of techniques to integrate science into my ICT teaching and vice versa. Our Year 7 classes are of mixed ability and enthusiastic to complete any work that involves practical activities or ICT. The area of ‘Classification’ is taught in our Eureka (Chapman et al. 2000) scheme of work within the topic of ‘Living things’ in Year 7, and contains only a small amount of practical work. Therefore, the use of ICT for pupils to understand the process of classifying invertebrates as well as their identification is both motivating and challenging.