Explaining Primary Science

Paul Chambers · Nicholas Souter

Mar 2017 · SAGE

About this ebook

Successful science teaching in primary schools requires a careful understanding of key scientific knowledge. This book covers all the major areas of science relevant for beginning primary school teachers, explaining key concepts from the ground up, helping trainees develop into confident science educators.

Classroom activities and Videos of useful science experiments and demonstrations for the primary classroom are integrated into each chapter to translate concepts into teaching practice.

Chapter content is linked to the National Curriculum in England and the Curriculum for Excellence, demonstrating how you could relate understanding to the relevant curriculum taught in schools.

About the author

Paul Chambers worked in industry prior to attending Jordanhill College of Education where he qualified as a physics and mathematics teacher. He then taught in a number of schools and was head of physics for over fourteen years. Whilst at school he was seconded on a number of occasions as staff trainer in physics and science. He was appointed lecturer in physics education (Initial Teacher Education) at the University of Strathclyde in 1999 and senior lecturer in 2003. He was also head of department for STEM education from 2003-2005 and a member of the Physics Qualifications Development Team which produced the new physics curricula in Scotland. He is the author of over ten school texts, from upper primary through to upper secondary, and has contributed to national examinations in physics as a marker, setter and vetter. More recently he has been developing science materials and CPD for primary schools and is co-ordinator for all STEM activities at the School of Education at the University of Strathclyde. He has taught on teacher education courses in Egypt and Malawi and was External Examiner for PGCE Science at an English university. He is also an accredited provider of primary science CPD for the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC), and serves on the ASE's Primary Science editorial board. Nicholas (Nicky) Souter 's first science lesson in 'the big school' included being told that the universe consists of matter and energy. That elegant and intriguing starting point was the hook that set him on a lifelong journey of sharing science with school pupils and teachers. He possesses undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in life science and in education awarded by the University of Glasgow, Jordanhill College of Education, Paisley College of Technology and the Royal Society of Biology. He established a reputation as an innovative secondary science practitioner and leader while developing a profile in curriculum development, teacher's CPD and as an examiner in biology. He moved midcareer into full-time teacher education at the University of Strathclyde where he progressed to senior lecturer as well as holding a number of senior faculty positions including leadership for one of the largest PGCE programmes in Europe, external examining, and the accreditation and design of new teacher education programmes in England and Scotland. Nicky has been a member of a number of committees in professional organisations e.g. The Association for Science Education, the Society of Biology and the British Ecological Society. He has undertaken consultancies in Pakistan and Germany, has contributed to more than 25 books, several of which offered supportive advice to life science teaching at all levels of the school curriculum. He is also an accredited provider of primary science CPD for SSERC, and has held consultancies with Rolls-Royce, the Woodland Trust, OXFAM and the BBC. Nicky is a Chartered Science Teacher and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.