ERIC Number: EJ1155767
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Nov
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0269-2465
EISSN: N/A
The Messy Nature of Science: Famous Scientists Can Help Clear Up
Sinclair, Alex; Strachan, Amy
Primary Science, n145 p21-23 Nov 2016
Having embraced the inclusion of evolution in the National Curriculum for primary science in England and briefly bemoaned the omission of any physics in key stage 1 (ages 5-7), it was time to focus on the biggest change, that of working scientifically. While the authors were aware of the non-statutory suggestions to study famous scientists such as Isaac Newton and Mary Anning, it was an area that, along with many of the primary science teaching community, they initially did not place much value on. It was only on closer scrutiny that they questioned the importance of learning about these scientists. Although it is implied within the National Curriculum, they believe that this could be an explicit opportunity to help children understand the "messy" nature and process of scientific research and development. They suggest that when studying these famous scientists, there should be a specific focus on helping the children to gain an appreciation of the different ways in which scientists work and how this is related to the different enquiries that the children carry out in the primary classroom.
Descriptors: Scientific Principles, National Curriculum, Physics, Elementary School Students, Science Instruction, Scientific Research, Scientists, Teaching Methods, Foreign Countries
Association for Science Education. College Lane Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AA, UK. Tel: +44-1-707-283000; Fax: +44-1-707-266532; e-mail: info@ase.org.uk; Web site: http://www.ase.org.uk
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A