Growing up in a small coastal town, students spend a great deal of time outdoors and at the beach. Given the many learning opportunities that such an environment can provide, engaging students in a sustained, environmental service project seemed like a natural complement to lessons focusing on the interaction of organisms within a habitat. This…

Background: Surprisingly little is known from a research perspective about the conceptual development of children's understanding of rainbows and rainbow formation. Yet research has shown that teachers tend to overestimate the proportion of students' correct answers in this domain. The present cross-sectional study aims to rectify this…

There is increasing interest in early childhood science education and a corresponding increase in research in this area. Studies have shown that in some countries the teaching of science in the early years remains low. These studies show that science pedagogy in the early years needs attention, despite the myriad opportunities afforded for the…

Both children and adults struggle to explain the cause of the day/night cycle and the seasons (Schoon 1995). Early elementary students may not be developmentally ready to explain that patterns of day and night are caused by Earth's rotation on its axis, or that the seasons are caused by Earth's tilted axis as the planet revolves around the Sun.…

This study investigated the use of storytelling in teaching elementary science on the topic of 'Sense Organs' at the Grade 1 level. A total of 21 students from one of the elementary schools in Brunei Darussalam participated in the study. The qualitative analyses of the observations and video recordings resulted in the classifications of the…

Maximizing classroom time to include meaningful content-based learning with fun engaging activities that simultaneously challenge and encourage students is a hallmark of a successful school day. This article shares one instructional approach that does a model eliciting activity (MEA). A MEA is a real-world, problem-based scenario framed around a…

In this paper, the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is presented in the light of current state-level legislation, with an emphasis on chemistry education at the primary, secondary and tertiary level. The consequences of the last war in our country still persist and are visible in many aspects of everyday life, including the education…

The Regulations of the Commissioner of Education provide that an elementary-level science test is to be administered in Grade 4 to serve as a basis for determining students' needs for academic intervention services in science. The New York State Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test consists of two required components: a Written Test and a…

Partnerships between schools and out-of-school organizations (museums, zoos, nature centers, etc.) have been shown to improve the educational experiences for both students and teachers. In this article, we report on the experiences we have documented as a nature center through our active involvement in school partnerships. Our partnerships with…

This paper uncovers the sustainability content in the science and mathematics curriculum of Qatar's K-12 public school system. It focuses on mapping the curriculum standards of both subjects against sustainable development goals (SDGs) and identifying the existing gap. The mapping, using a key-words approach, of sustainability concepts based on UN…

With the introduction and implementation of core literacy, scientific thinking (ST) has become an essential goal and key dimension of science teaching. At present, there is no agreement on how to cultivate students' ST. This study took 238 sixth grade students from a public primary school in urban China as research sample, built a theoretical…

Background: Primary science education is critical for developing scientific literacy and fostering long-term interest in STEM. However, implementation faces challenges such as limited teacher preparation, rigid curricula, and unequal digital access. Purpose: This study aims to map the intellectual structure and emerging trends in primary science…

This book presents a compelling and transformative exploration of the often-overlooked domain of primary science education. It features contributions from educators and scholars worldwide, and provides a fresh perspective on the subject by highlighting positive and productive narratives, challenging the prevalent deficit perspective that has long…

The author writes about taking on the role of Science Coordinator, changing expectations, and raising the profile of science in her school.

Foundation Year children are often excited about learning to read. Some 5- to 6-year-olds with well-developed literacy skills begin to read chapter books. Like older children and adults, they cannot read the whole book in one sitting. The learning experience described in the article provides an example of how the properties of materials…