In this article, a series of activities on explicit teaching of specific aspects of the 'nature of science' are presented. The authors explore teaching the nature of science through inquiry-based activities on electric circuits. The activities concern classification of objects as conductors or insulators and took place in three classes of 4th…

Curiosity is not about passive receiving of knowledge. Being curious involves action, a desire to know, discover or learn. Children's curiosity should be a central part of their science education. Often in science, curiosity can stem from an everyday occurrence that encourages an observation and promotes a 'what if?' or 'why?' reaction. The…

Teaching children scientific vocabulary is an important part of science education and should be carefully considered when planning units of work so that children can understand new words and apply them to their learning (Sewell, 2018). This view is echoed in the aims of the National Curriculum in England, which states that pupils should be able to…

This is the third special issue of "Primary Science," and it is one that offers primary school teachers an insight into an initiative that does wonders for primary science leadership, learning, and teaching -- the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM). In this article, Clare Warren, PSQM senior hub leader, explains why PSQM included…

Exploiting the special synergy between science and mathematics can deepen children's understanding of scientific concepts and ideas and provide a range of contextualised opportunities for children to apply their mathematical knowledge and skills. With some creative thought and careful planning, science activities can be developed so that they…

In this article, the author, Science Coordinator at St. Julian's Primary School in Wales, talks about giving children the bigger picture around science and STEM and making it relevant. She says the key is to find a subject or theme that your children are interested in and then sit down and identify all the cross-curricular links. This…

Changes to the National Curriculum in England in 2014 placed a stronger emphasis on children working scientifically while developing a range of science enquiry skills. As science subject leaders, the authors noticed that colleagues in their schools were only confident when teaching enquiry as a fair test, which the authors now know is not always…

Anything messy, noisy, cute or unexpected will usually generate an excited reaction or a 'wow' moment for children when they experience a new or surprising phenomenon in science. not to lose the moment after the wow but to ensure that the enthusiasm and interest of the children is channelled into new learning experiences. This involves careful…

Since the schools in the United Kingdom (UK) closed to most pupils in March 2020 to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, the internet has delivered a flood of materials for 'home-schooling'. Finding the most appropriate resources has been overwhelming for teachers and parents alike. The majority of pupils in the UK (71.3-85.1%, depending on region)…

In this article, Helen Wilson, Bridget Holligan, and Pam Hanley share outcomes from the "Thinking, Doing, Talking Science" (TDTS) project, which encourages children's learning and engagement with science through simple and effective activities. The article contains the following prompts used to facilitate discussion during "The…

The learning of science keeps evolving, just like the subject of science itself. With this in mind, teachers know the importance of keeping up to date and researching different ways of providing a rich learning experience for children. Teachers are developing not only children's learning, but how they progress as learners. This is where Tony…

A review of research on outdoor learning by Rickinson "et al." (2004) highlights the demonstrable educational benefits and provides a source of support, justification and an evidence base for educators looking to undertake more learning outside the classroom. Bird (2004) also reviewed the widely reported health benefits of outdoor…

The author explores how using a child-centered approach to learning and a familiar context can help develop understanding. The placement school referenced in this article had an ethos that emphasized a child-centred approach, the importance of children being involved in every aspect of their learning. The author also shows that the school set a…

Nicky Waller and Chris Baker believe that change can be a good thing and explain how their training has helped others to adjust to the new science curriculum. In September 2013, teachers across England received the definitive version of the new primary curriculum "Leading Change in the Primary Science Curriculum." This course aimed to…

The view that science and religion are conflicting ways of understanding the world is widely and frequently presented in the media and may be the view held by most children. It is not the only view, however, and there are many scientists who have a religious faith. Usefully perhaps, for those who are interested in science education, examining…