As the science coordinator and one of the teaching team at Laneshaw Bridge Primary School in Lancashire, the author is very proud of their eighth position in "The Times" top primary schools in England for 2009 list. While recognising that this is not the only measure of a school's achievements, knowing the effort the children and staff put into…

After the removal of the science SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) written paper for the end of key stage 2 (11 year-olds, year 6) in England, some teachers and leaders were jumping for joy while others were left wondering "What do we do with year 6?" Uncertainty about the future of science assessment made many feel uneasy. With no definite answers…

Assessment for Learning (AfL)--assessment that focuses on the gap between present performance and the desired goal--is integral to teaching and learning, and its importance has been recognised over a number of years. With the new status of science assessment in England, following the changes to key stage testing, a research team at the National…

The development of science and technology in any country will be a key factor in determining its status and power in an open economy, and developing countries such as India and Uganda cannot afford to be left behind. The observed fall in the number of youngsters seeking careers in science during the past few years has become a matter of concern to…

What do the Internet, mobile phones, SATs, global warming, wetsuits, wind farms, laptops, recycling bins, iPods, the NLS and the Beckhams have in common? Answer: virtually no one had heard of any of these in 1986, when the first issue of "PSR" came out. The world of children and teachers has clearly changed since then. So what of "PSR" itself?…

Good primary science is about children being engaged in questioning, exploring and interpreting--and enjoying the experience. Good ICT is where appropriate software, hardware and activities complement and support science activities. It is all too easy to see only the whizzes and bangs of the latest technology and forget about the learning…

Strategies used in science to engage children whose first language is not English will help other children's learning too. (Author/MM)

Offers advice on enabling children to develop and use scientific vocabulary accurately. (Author)

Suggests ways that teachers can help children become more scientific through developing their language skills. (Author/MM)

Discusses using and producing poems as a way of clarifying and accessing children's ideas about science topics. (Author/MM)

Unexpected results in an investigation using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provide valuable learning opportunities. (Author/MM)

Encouraging children to think about their learning through simple, easy-to-plan activities facilitates better understanding and retention of science concepts. (Author)

Presents an open letter reflecting changes in the relationship between science and its effects on teaching practices. Discusses science for personal development, science for future scientists, unintended misrepresentations of science, and appraisal of science and society. (YDS)

Presents a provision of early science education in elementary schools back in the late 1870s and 1880s. (YDS)

Explains studies on the idea of taking children's ideas seriously and when and how this notion took place in the curriculum. Describes the common characteristic of children's ideas and discusses what teachers should do with these ideas. (YDS)