Assessing Science in the Primary Classroom

The series of books published under the title Assessing Science in the Primary Classroom resulted from the Science Teacher Action Research (STAR) project. The three-year project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, took place from 1986 to the end of 1989. The project aimed to improve practice in primary school science by involving teachers in decisions about helping children’s learning with a particular focus on the use of process (enquiry) skills in developing ideas about the world around. A key element was to provide participating teachers with appropriate means of assessing children’s performance in different aspects of the scientific process. There were three distinct aspects of the project:

• Defining effective practice in science through systematic classroom enquiry
• Collaborating with teachers in identifying ways of making their existing practice more effective
• Developing strategies for spreading more effective practice in primary science through in-service education.

The project resulted in the publication of three books entitled Written tasks, Practical tasks and Observing activities, under the general title of Assessing Science in the Primary Classroom. The books describe the assessment instruments and how they were used to provide feedback to teachers on their progress in improving primary science practice. These assessment methods are placed in the wider context of assessment that can be used by teachers. The books are of particular to those concerned with developing assessment procedures, teacher educators and school science co-ordinators.