Each new baby is scrutinised and their facial features and other characteristics catalogued against known family members. This is essentially a social process: the new family member is recognised and accepted into the tribe. However, people's genetic inheritance--the information in their DNA--is also a serious matter with the potential to…

The paper reports on the outcomes of a Department of Culture, Museums and Sport (DCMS) funded project which provided resources for three groups of teachers in different subjects and age phases to have some time where they were freed from their teaching responsibilities, and also given time to meet together with other teachers to share ideas. The…

The AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust (AZSTT) was created as a registered charity in 1997 with a mission to support the teaching of science in primary schools in the UK. Since 1997, the Trust has commissioned, and is continuing to commission, a broad spectrum of large-scale innovative projects and smaller scale cluster projects designed to…

Reports the results of a study relating to the objectives that teachers deem most important in elementary school science. Elementary teachers of Victoria (Australia) and Britain hold similar opinions about elementary science objectives, valuing especially the abilities to observe, solve problems, classify data, and communicate ideas. (JR)

At Waite End Primary School in Waterlooville, Hampshire, the authors are involved in a research project with the University of Winchester and the pharmaceutical company Astra- Zeneca called "Teachers and young children exploring their worlds together". The project focuses around their belief that "the younger a child is the more…

The new science curriculum in Ireland is promoting a more scientific culture in the primary phase. For many years, science teaching in the Republic of Ireland at primary level was little more than a comprehension exercise. However, with the introduction of the new curriculum in 1998, science education has changed radically, becoming a more…

Members of "Primary Science Review" Editorial Board explain what drew them to science. Alan Peacock, "PSR" Editor, emphasises the need to preserve children's sense of wonderment about the world. Robert Collins, a science educator in the Faculty of Education, University of Strathclyde, thinks people are "secret science…

Discusses the principles which the author believes are important for the style of primary science in the United Kingdom. These are spontaneity, open-mindedness, and integration. (HM)

Investigates 53 11-year-old children's understanding of the concepts of force and energy using a modified interview-about-instances technique. Identifies three frameworks which appeared to guide the pupil's thinking, only one of which was consistent with the accepted scientific definitions. Reports sex differences related to the frameworks.…

If teachers decide to introduce the idea that the behaviour of matter ("stuff") can be explained by thinking about it as being made up of particles that exhibit particular properties, then they need to be aware of the learning difficulties involved. Before using this approach, therefore, more immediate consideration needs to be directed…

Back in May 2003, the Secretary of State launched "Excellence and enjoyment: a strategy for primary schools". This set out the vision for the future of primary education built on what has already been achieved. In the words of the DfES: "This vision is for a sector where high standards are obtained through a rich, varied and…

Presents the author's views of what should be done about science teaching and curriculum in the British elementary schools. (HM)

The essential purpose of primary science should be to help children make meaningful sense of the world around them. This will enable them to develop into scientifically literate adults who have a critical understanding of the ideas of science, but who also have respect, care and sensitivity for the world they live in and their impact on it. If…

Discusses the national, area, and school policies to improve elementary school science and technology. Describes the development procedures, content, and evaluation of the school policy. (YP)

When thinking about talk and discussion in primary science, the author often returns to the little gem of a book by Douglas Barnes--"From communication to curriculum" (1976). Barnes used observations of science lessons to make cogent points about the value of talk for both thinking and communication. A useful distinction that he…