In 2014, evolution through natural selection was introduced to the primary science National Curriculum in England for year 6 (ages 10-11). As teachers had little prior experience of teaching this concept, it provided a rare opportunity to study the effectiveness of different approaches. A study was developed to investigate the impact of…

In 2018-19, Dr. Guirong Wang, from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, spent a year with the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC). CIEC has been involved in world-class outreach work for thirty years. They have combined the design of effective practical programmes with research and evaluation of impact. This article explores…

In a recent survey of over 240 primary school children between the ages of 8 and 11, NUSTEM found that 75% of children said that they liked science and 63% said that they were good at science. However, when looking at the data by gender, there is a difference in enjoyment between girls and boys, with 71% of girls and 79% of boys saying that they…

The Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) Focused Assessment approach embeds assessment within normal classroom science activities. Essentially, a Focused Assessment is a lesson plan for a science inquiry, with an identified focus for assessment and guidance on how to interpret the children's responses in relation to expectations for that…

In recent years, research has shown that the proportion of young people considering science for future study and careers is not significantly improved by increasing their enjoyment of science at school. Rather, it is more important to help children understand that science is done by people like them and that science is relevant to their daily…

In this article, Nicky Bolton describes how she devised an approach that would encourage both experienced and newly qualified and trainee teachers to approach outdoor learning confidently. The challenge was to enable every teacher to view the outdoors as an effective learning. She called this model 'Bucket School' and initially developed the…

All teachers know that the opening few minutes of any lesson can be the critical part. It is the chance to set the scene, to establish order and sense of purpose, to enthuse and grab attention and perhaps to establish boundaries. It launches the learning. Bob Kibble discusses ways of setting out the shape and direction of lessons without using a…

The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC) team at the University of York has carried out research and evaluation into the impact of their resources and programmes since the programme began in 1996, to ensure that all their programmes -- are improved to meet the changing needs of both schools and companies. Furthermore, their research…

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

Engineers are vital to the way we live, our everyday experiences and activities, but despite this engineering receives little focus in the primary classroom. Interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) wanes as children reach the end of primary school. However, providing positive experiences can keep the doors open for…

Science is one of the most important subjects for students at all educational levels. To promote engagement, hands-on experiments can provide a 'realistic and exciting experience of the content' (Holstermann, Grube and Bögeholz, 2010: 744) and hopefully facilitate motivation. In this article, George Stylos and Konstantinos T. Kotsis present four…

If people want to be healthy they need to eat. However, food poverty (the inability to afford or access food to make up a healthy diet) is just one of the consequences of climate change. For many children in UK schools, food poverty is their everyday experience. The UK's food poverty rate is suggested to be among the highest in Europe; despite the…

Best Evidence Science Teaching (BEST) is a large online collection of resources developed for effective teaching of difficult ideas in science, currently for use in secondary schools. The unique selling point of BEST is that it enables teachers to draw on the best research evidence when teaching a wide range of topics in the science curriculum.…

As schools in England re-open their doors and welcome children back in September 2020 after the COVID-19 lockdown, what can, and should, primary science look like in the 'new normal'? If timetables are constricted to adhere to the demands of social distancing, innovative practical science enquiry will be needed. Even if they are not, the…

Teachers from Kates Hill Primary School describe uniting the school in a vision for science and raising the profile of science through enrichment by using Explorify.