Science is at heart a practical subject, but the perception of what makes good teaching and learning through practical science is often misunderstood. Through working with teachers on professional development courses at the UK's National Science Learning Centre, and drawing on work carried out by other organisations, we present some thoughts and…

The activities presented in this paper, which are addressed to elementary school, are focused on the pioneering work of the Portuguese King Carlos I in oceanography and involve the exploration of the exhibits belonging to two different science museums, the Aquarium Vasco da Gama and the Maritime Museum. Students were asked to study fish…

Interconnectedness changes lives. It can even save lives. Recently the author got to witness and be part of something in his role as a teacher of primary science that has changed lives: it may even have saved lives. It involved primary science teaching--and the climate. Robert Collins describes how it is all interconnected. The "Toilet…

How can educators provide children with a genuine experience of carrying out an extended scientific investigation? And can teachers change the perception of what it means to be a scientist? These were key questions that lay behind "The Human Condition" project, an initiative funded by the Primary Science Teaching Trust to explore a new…

One author shares the unique opportunity to be immersed in the science of "sound at work" through participation in NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Teacher at Sea Program. A third- through fifth-grade learning outcome within the Nature of Science section of the "Next Generation Science Standards"…

Assessment serves many purposes in the elementary classroom. Formative assessment, often called assessment for learning, is characterized by its primary purpose--promoting learning. It takes place both formally and informally, is embedded in various stages of an instructional cycle, informs the teacher about appropriate next steps for instruction,…

In this study, five elementary teachers and a university researcher developed and implemented problem-based learning (PBL) experiences in the context of science teaching and learning. Collaborative inquiry was adopted as a methodology, while a variety of qualitative methods were used to examine the engagement and development of teachers'…

Examined were the cognitive preferences of sixth grade students in relationship both to student involvement in a program utilizing Elementary Science Study Materials and to the teaching strategies employed by the teachers. Two-hundred twenty-six students of eleven teachers, who had taken part in summer workshops to gain experience in using ESS…

Discusses the A-T approach in conjunction with a structured science program, such as COPES, which provides opportunities for independent study and student self-pacing and is a means for increasing student comprehension. This approach can also help absentee students catch up as well as students who enter mid-year. (BR)

New science programs require a shift in emphasis to the finding of answers rather than on the answers themselves. (Author)

Describes problem-solving activities in the Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) and Elementary Science Study (ESS) programs. Indicates that these curricula serve as excellent sources of activities to develop and improve their students' problem-solving skills. (Author/JN)

This study discusses the differences in behavior that the open-minded teacher and the closed-minded teacher exhibit in teaching elementary school science. To study dogmatism and classroom behaviors, a group of 43 teachers enrolled in an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in-service program was identified and classified into…

Describes evaluative data obtained during the Colorado Elementary Science Project which used elementary teachers to provide inservice training for other teachers after intensive experience with one of the national elementary science projects. Makes recommendations for implementation and change of this diffusion model. (AL)

Discusses the controversy involving the effectiveness of elementary science curricula projects of the sixties and seventies. Reports on a synthesis of the research, student performance, implications, and improvements for the future. States that these innovative programs were more effective in raising student performance and attitudes than…

Six papers are presented related to the problem of curriculum evaluation and the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS). The findings of feedback from teachers on units of material produced for the project are discussed. An examination is made of the dynamics of classroom behavior when SCIS is taught. Also included is a discussion of…