The intended curriculum is arguably one of the most important components within any national educational system although those in primary science have not been subject to extensive research scrutiny. Based on reformed primary science curricula from Hong Kong, mainland China, and Taiwan, we compared them on two key features: (1) levels of knowledge…

Education and training in the first year of the Republic had been kept as it was in the period of Empire with its former structure and content. The educational system and programs could be designed after the "Canon for the Unity of Education and Training" in 1924. The first curriculums of the primary and secondary schools have formed by…

A number of recent policies have tried to improve science learning by increasing the number of science courses required for high school graduation or admission to higher education institutions. But it is highly unlikely that these mandates alone will materially affect the amount and quality of science education for students. Any effort to improve…

The Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum, formerly a highly prescribed, content-rich programme in which science was a discrete subject, was revised in 2007 and made statutory for all year groups by 2009. One of the most significant changes has been the amalgamation of science and technology with geography and history under a single area of learning…

Readers of the draft new English primary science curriculum (DfE, 2012) might be concerned to see that there is much more detail on the Earth science content than previously in the United Kingdom. In this article, Chris King, a professor of Earth Science Education at Keele University and Director of the Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU),…

The results of Romanian students at international comparative TIMSS and PISA tests have constantly proven to be unsatisfactory. The present paper aims at analyzing the school syllabi "Mathematics and Environment exploration", "Environmental Education" and "Natural Sciences" studied during primary education in Romania…

In this article, Michael E. Wysession comments on the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS), which are based on the recommendations of the National Research Council and represent a revolutionary step toward establishing modern, national K-12 science education standards. The NGSS involves significant changes from traditional…

The first page of this list of requirements for elementary science teachers lists overall course objectives for a Teacher Corps science education course. Next are instructions for learning to use the Science Teacher Observation Rating Form, followed by an analysis of each item on the form, instructions for scoring it, and a copy of the form…

Presented is one of a series of publications, Resources in Education, related to the Science Program of the Fairfax County Public Schools, 1974. A program description for K through 12 is presented to include the major goals of science education. A program description of each level is presented and Primary, Middle Elementary and Upper Elementary…

Describes a course for elementary science teachers which uses Transactional Analysis to enable the prospective teacher to improve his self-understanding and his interactions with children. (JR)

Research findings are reported concerning the extent to which writing assignments in contrasting examples of upper elementary science curriculum materials are likely to engage students in higher order thinking and problem solving, and to facilitate meaningful learning of scientific concepts. Organized around a common set of elaborate framing…

Discusses various issues related to science education reform in Great Britain. The principle concern is over the extent to which content of both courses/examinations provides children with skills/attitudes relevant to their needs in the modern world. Although all agree that changes are needed, reforms may prove elusive. (JN)

Describes a short course for parents and children in grades 5-8. Fundamental concepts of chemistry are the focus of the experiments described. (SA)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an earth systems science course (integrated mathematics and science content) on preservice elementary teachers' mathematics and science teaching efficacy. Paired t-tests revealed that the personal mathematics and science teaching efficacy and science teaching outcome expectancy significantly…

Describes the format and lists course content of a university-based workshop for elementary school teachers who require additional training because they may lack experience in performing experiments, demonstrations, and observations related to physics in elementary science courses. (Author/SK)