This multiple-case study examined constraints encountered by early career elementary school teachers as they try to deliver high-quality science instruction. Four first-year teachers, who expressed confidence in their preparation and enthusiasm for teaching science, were asked to reflect on the most effective strategies for teaching elementary…

As well as knowledge structures can be complex and coherent, they might be small and disconnected. This study focuses on knowledge elements of pre-service teachers using diSessa's phenomenological primitives (p-prims) framework. Based on group interviews, a test was developed regarding the knowledge fragments used for explaining free fall in three…

For some scientific ideas, it is obvious to pupils as to why they are studied. For others, a bit more work is needed before their significance becomes apparent. The concept of 'historical significance', which is used in history teaching, can help children to appreciate the enduring importance of scientific discoveries and events. The pedagogic…

Common objects are made of materials that have obvious physical features which, although readily observable, may be overlooked by children. Helping young children to notice characteristic features -- scientifically referred to as properties -- equips them to discern common and distinct (diagnostic) features. Once children begin to recognise…

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a constructivist teaching intervention on 6th grade students' cognitive progress on large-scale Energy Generation Systems (EGS), specifically on a Thermal Power Plant (TPP). This intervention was designed according to the constructivist approach for teaching and learning science, and it can be…

This article was inspired by two of Gemma Turley's greatest passions, science and history, and demonstrates how exploring the history of scientists and scientific discovery in primary schools can support teaching of primary science. Herein she explains how educators can use the history of science to highlight to children that science is a career…

Sound is an interesting topic for physics lessons at all ages. However, it is difficult to illustrate this ubiquitous phenomenon and many models do not adequately represent the properties of sound and thus promote unwanted conceptions. The experiment presented here avoids this by visualising sound itself with the help of the schlieren technique.…

Charles Darwin would be pleased to know that elementary school children in states that have adopted the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS) are expected to demonstrate their understanding of several core evolutionary concepts, including trait variation and inheritance, fossils and extinct organisms, common ancestry, natural…

As educators seek to engage students in their learning, inquiry-based teaching can be an effective approach for transforming teaching. The result is a transformative shift in learning for students and teachers alike.

Engagement in meaningful and authentic science learning requires students to access not only the science content and practices but also the academic language required to talk and write within science classrooms. This academic language creates a challenge within science classrooms as for many students this language differs from their everyday…

In this study, a set of hybrid images was designed as a new and up-to-date unexamined type of external visual representations in the chemistry classroom. One challenging teaching theme was chosen ("Amino acids and proteins"), and the hybrid images were used among novices--primary school students. For the purpose of the study, two groups…

When it snows, children are permitted to play outside during recess, which causes them to experience a variety of problems with their mittens or gloves. To align instruction with a problem student's experience in every day life, the authors developed and administered a short survey to second graders in an after school program. The authors found…

Socio-scientific issues (SSIs) are real-life problems which have a scientific basis yet require the consideration of social concerns. Using SSIs has been advocated as an approach to engage secondary-school students with science and this study aimed to explore the potential of such an approach in the primary-school classroom. The experiences and…

This study mainly aims to determine the effect of layered curriculum on problem solving skills of students in science and technology course. The study group of the research is the 6th grade students of an elementary school in the center of Malatya. The mixed method, which includes quantitative and qualitative research patterns, was used. In the…

This collective case study uses a design-based research approach to investigate the role of 3D pens, an emerging technology, in fostering creativity during a lesson on biomes, genetics, and heredity with learners in six classes of 4th and 5th grade students from rural Michigan and Idaho. Data analyzed included video of the classroom lessons,…