Teaching and Learning Primary Science

This book, written by Wynne Harlen, looks at science education in the late seventies and early eighties. At this time primary science was relatively new and, although there was an acceptance in principle of the need for science teaching, the delivery in schools did not match up to this. The author discusses the importance of science in the primary phase and the way children learn by making their own sense of the world. This is done by observing, explaining observations by applying existing ideas, raising questions, designing investigations, interpreting information and communicating their ideas and understanding. This book deals with the teacher's role in this progress and how these skills may be utilised across the curriculum where there is a need for enquiry skills to explore and make better sense of the world around them. The following ideas are discussed in each chapter:

• Science as an essential part of children’s education -
• Areas of scientific development
• Changing children’s ideas and ways of thinking
• The question of content
• Evaluating opportunities for learning science
• Providing opportunities for infants
• The teacher’s role
• Assessing children’s progress
• Curriculum organisation for continuity and progress
• Resources for teaching and learning science