In the United States, "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" (National Research Council, 2012) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offer a vision of rigorous science standards for all students across K-12 classrooms. As science and engineering practices (e.g., develop models, argue from evidence, construct explanations) are…

There are arguably advantages to adopting a cross-curricular approach to planning, teaching and learning. This approach often works well for incorporating scientific skills and the wider perspectives of geography, technology and maths. It can help children to develop and consolidate their understanding through practical application and gives them…

The logistics of finding and inviting STEM professionals (volunteers from science-based industries, universities, etc.) into the classroom can appear daunting, combined with fact-handing over control of some of the lesson. So, do the benefits make the effort worthwhile? In this article, the author describes the impact that STEM professionals could…

In this article, the author aims to open up thinking about a frequently used term -- disadvantage -- and to consider it in relation to the primary science classroom teaching and learning experiences. With the support of education charities such as the Comino Foundation and the SHINE Trust, the author discusses how her team has been exploring the…

It might sound to some like an impossible target to give children 22 hours of scientific enquiry by Christmas, but the current COVID-19 pandemic has already demonstrated its capacity to make the impossible happen and to upturn so many of the assumptions that have shaped the way people teach and learn. Children can reach 22 hours of enquiry if…

Research-based science curriculum has become a common means of supporting best practices in science teaching. However, despite one elementary school's adoption of commercially available science curriculum, the school's fifth-grade teacher selected only certain science modules for implementation in her classroom. The purpose of this narrative study…

Science education in primary school is critical for establishing a comprehensive understanding of the nature of science. Students with positive attitudes towards science courses are more likely to achieve academic success. Measuring and fostering positive attitudes is essential for effective instructional planning. This study aimed to develop a…

Given the myriad mandates and policies related to math and language arts education, U.S. public elementary teachers must "care about" teaching science for it to actually happen. Consequently, this study sought to explore the impacts of assignments in a science methods course supporting teacher candidates (TCs) in "caring about"…

Competency-based education practice is a priority area, but there is limited scientific research analyzing the education process of holistically developing students' competencies and subject matter skills. The aim of the study is to provide scientific evidence for the integrated competency-based education practice of primary school students during…

This study explored elementary students' reasoning about the life cycles of various organisms, including insects and amphibians. The study took place in a private school in Lebanon with 24 fifth-grade students. Students participated in a life cycle unit with pre and post-written assessments about what they learned and interviews to help determine…

Although several reforms have shifted the direction of education, a debate on the strengths and limitations of science education in Kosovo has not yet been initiated. The present article analyses the development of chemistry education in Kosovo and encourages questions that could shape science education practices in general. In particular, the…

The research that studies the improvement of elementary school students' science knowledge and the development of elementary students' abilities to use the scientific and engineering practices is restricted. The purpose of this research is to study the effects of an instructional intervention on the knowledge of the students of elementary school…

This dissertation examines students' social-emotional experience with knowledge building pedagogy from the lenses of grit and growth mindset. The goal of this dissertation is to understand how interest, perseverance of effort and growth mindset oriented feedback engage students social emotionally in knowledge building to sustain and deepen their…

This study developed a local climate change curriculum that incorporates generative learning strategies and emphasizes the creation of visually engaging educational content. The curriculum's impact was assessed by examining generative learning through recall and knowledge transfer, as well as declarative knowledge across elementary students with…

Becoming proficient in scientific discourse such as argumentation or developing explanations can be challenging for students, including neurodivergent students (e.g., autistic students, students with learning disabilities, students with ADHD). Students need to practice developing arguments and explanations as well as sharing their conclusions with…