Science for Children

Science for Children introduces readers to the pedagogy of primary and early childhood science education. The book pays special attention to the three strands of science, in accordance with the Australian Curriculum. It also uses the practice principles and learning outcomes of the national Early Years Learning Framework to present content for babies through to the transition into the Foundation year at school. Science for Children explores various approaches to teaching and learning in science. It covers inquiry approaches in detail; makes explicit links to the 5Es; critiques longstanding approaches, such as discovery approaches and a transmission approach; and explores Indigenous perspectives and a Vygotskian framework. This allows the reader to make informed choices about when to use a particular approach in primary classrooms and early childhood settings. Designed to prepare future educators for practice, Science for Children challenges students and offers practical classroom-based strategies for their science teaching careers.

Part I. Research Foundation for Developing a Personal Approach to Teaching Science: 1. Science as a human endeavour; 2. Researching children's understanding and ways of learning; Part II. Transmission and Discovery Approaches to Teaching and Learning in Science: 3. A transmission approach to teaching science; 4. A discovery based approach to learning science; Part III. Inquiry-Based Approaches: 5. Inquiry-based approach to teaching science; 6. Inquiry-based approach to learning science; 7. Teaching for conceptual change: constructivism; Part IV. Inclusive Constructions of Knowledge across and within Communities and Cultures: 8. Conceptual play, and contextual and conceptual intersubjectivity: cultural-historical approaches to learning science; 9. Culturally sensitive teaching: sustainability and relatedness in our ecosystems; Part V. Leadership in Science: 10. Becoming a leader of science: situating yourself.

Marilyn Fleer is the Foundation Chair of Early Childhood Education at Monash University, Victoria.