Lisa Newton, an Association for Science Education (ASE) Primary Science Committee member, reflects on the benefits gained from joining and taking an active part in the ASE. For a number of years Newton attended regional meetings, fed back information to the local section, and helped to organise a number of different local events. These were well…

In the past, teaching has suffered from applying tentative research from neuroscience directly to the classroom. Even though the last decade has seen a step change in efforts to bring together education and neuroscience research, the dialogue is still in its infancy. What do you do if you want to learn more? What does the research really tell us?…

Teachers learn a lot about learning and teaching from dialogue with each other. Association for Science Education (ASE) meetings and other science conferences are ideal ways of coming into contact with other professionals to engage in dialogue. One special dimension of that contact is encountering overseas colleagues. Authors Brenda Keogh and…

When providing training to teachers struggling with the concept of forces, the author encourages them to start with something within the experience of the children they are teaching. For example, show them photographs taken on windy days, such as that of a tree, and ask them to explain what is happening. This encourages the children to focus on…

Writing in "Primary Science" 114, this author suggested that there was a perennial issue with initial teacher education (ITE) students and newly qualified teachers (NQTs) not engaging with the theory that underpins their practice. Having worked recently with primary and secondary NQTs in England, this concern proved true and raised another…

There are many ways in which wire coat hangers can be used other than for suspending clothes. The author has been making use of them in his teaching for many years--copying ideas from colleagues and creating some for himself. In this article, he shares five examples that can enrich learning about science. (Contains 6 figures.)

When faced with a multitude of tasks, any opportunity to "kill two birds with one stone" is welcome. Drama has always excited the author: as a child performing in plays, later as a student and now as a teacher directing performances and improvising within lessons. The author was lucky enough to have inspirational teachers during his primary and…

Is a "fair test" the only way to carry out science investigations? Many children (and primary teachers) following the National Curriculum in England and Wales would answer "yes" to this question. This is because fair test investigations have historically been promoted in national assessment, published curricula, schemes of work and assessment…

Following the recent publication of "Successful science" by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted, 2011), which is an evaluation of science education in England over a 3-year period, the author wondered at the some of the findings. There is an emphasis on scientific enquiry and why was this so? Obviously…

Creativity in primary science is even more important now than when it was first raised with the publication of the report "All our futures: creativity, culture and education." Creativity needs to involve both the teacher and the children. Exciting, creative and practical opportunities provided by the teacher will increase children's motivation and…

There have been many years of innovation in primary science education. Surprisingly, however, most of this has taken place within the confines of the classroom. What primary science has not yet done with universal success is step outside the classroom boundaries to use the school grounds for teaching and learning across all aspects of the science…

Despite the rewards, there are numerous barriers to teachers running clubs: (1) getting weekly fresh activity ideas and resourcing them; (2) the lack of a budget; and (3) shortage of time. With the best will in the world, it is easy to feel that time is already swallowed up with planning and assessment of normal lessons, let alone putting in the…

Most teachers often pass themselves off as "just" teachers, when in truth they are so much more. Teacher, adviser, consultant, confidante, manager, leader, partner, collaborator, role model, councillor, researcher, learner, friend. Of course, in the 21st-century education system teachers are expected to carry out roles well beyond "just"…

How many children entering a classroom already have a day/night explanation that employs a turning Earth? This question ought to be of interest to most teachers, along with questions such as "What are children thinking after one's teaching of this topic?" The author has used a simple diagram and tick-box response sheet to help him assess the range…

The Getting Practical--Improving Practical Work in Science programme offers professional development for primary teachers across England. During the 2009/2010 academic year, 237 primary teachers attended a Getting Practical training course, giving themselves the opportunity to reflect upon their own teaching practices and consider ways to make…