Renewable energy is harnessed from natural and sustainable sources, like wind, sun and water. They offer a pollution-free, endless source of electricity that is crucial in the fight against climate change. Every unit of this "green" electricity directly replaces electricity normally generated from conventional polluting sources such as coal or…

Most primary science practitioners would immediately list questioning as one of the key ways in which they influence children's learning. Even so, effective questioning is not a straightforward skill. In this article, the author offers ideas to help practitioners understand the relevance and importance of questioning in primary science and how…

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…

Pupils' books in primary science are either rarely used, underused, or misused, even though many excellent books and schemes exist. Various explanations have been offered, such as cost, lack of "match" to the QCA scheme, failure to differentiate, lack of visual literacy, cultural inappropriateness, and language problems (Peacock, 1995, 1997). So…

Why introduce genetics at primary level? Children are fascinated by themselves and where they come from. Many have heard of genes, mostly through the media coverage of genetics, and want to know more. Children should be engaged in science at an early age to foster an interest and encourage an appreciation of its relevance to life. Genetics sits…

This study explores a fourth grade classroom, hypothesizing about the possibilities for using drama to teach elementary school science. The case study provides one with the author's first glimpse into a fourth grade science classroom, as well as a preliminary examination of whether or not room exists for drama in the elementary science classroom.…

Planning contains so much more than the written plan. Early in 2000, an invitation came from the Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN), to people experienced in action research who might want to help plan and present an action research event for elementary school science teachers in Venezuela, South America, in Autumn 2000. This article…

An experiment investigated how methods of questioning affect children's responses regarding the shape of the earth and the day/night cycle. Seventy-two children from Grade 1 and Grade 3 in a middle-class elementary school in Athens, Greece, were tested either by an open method of questioning or by a forced-choice method of questioning. The two…

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a local systemic change (LSC) project on scientists' practices and beliefs about teaching and learning. A mixed-method design was implemented that consisted of a series of interviews and the administration of the Classroom Learning Environment Survey (paper presented at the annual meeting…

In 1983, the National Commission on Excellence in Education in the United States issued a report called "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform." This report and other policy initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind Legislation recommended that the individual states institute assessments to hold schools accountable.…

Web-based instruction was integrated into a course on human biology given to prospective elementary school science teachers. The goal of the study was to reveal the students' perceptions about the teacher's roles in such a course. Data were gathered from the teacher's forum and e-mail messages, students' e-mails, and interviews. The findings…

The phenomenon of resonance is applicable to almost every branch of physics. Without resonance, there wouldn't be televisions or stereos, or even swings on the playground. However, resonance also has undesirable side effects such as irritating noises in the car and the catastrophic events such as helicopters flying apart. In this article, the…

What types of instructional experiences help K-8 students learn science with understanding? What do science educators, teachers, teacher leaders, science specialists, professional development staff, curriculum designers, and school administrators need to know to create and support such experiences? "Ready, Set, Science!" guides the way with an…

Prior research in both education and cognitive science has identified analogy making as a powerful tool for explanation as well as a fundamental mechanism for facilitating an individual's construction of knowledge. While a considerable body of research exists focusing on the role analogy plays in learning science concepts, relatively little is…

This study describes an elementary science model of professional development through mentoring by university science education professors working with teachers at a private elementary school in a regional city in Queensland, Australia. A cross-cultural collaboration involving professors from the United States and Australia resulted in the socially…