Children have an innate curiosity about the natural world that makes teaching science a rewarding experience. However teaching science is an art that requires a unique combination of knowledge and skills to make the most of students' interest and foster their understanding. With contributions from leading educators, The Art of Teaching Primary Science addresses the fundamental issues in teaching science in primary and early childhood years. Reflecting current research in science education, The Art of Teaching Primary Science covers the following areas: * the theoretical underpinnings of science education and curriculum; * effective science teaching practice planning, teaching strategies, investigations, resources and assessment; * key issues including scientific literacy, integrating science and technology, and activities outside the classroom.

The book's argument depends, as do most proposals in education, upon cer tain positions in the philosophy of education. I believe that education should be primarily concerned with developing understanding, with initiation into worth while traditions of intellectual achievement, and with developing capacities for clear, analytic and critical thought. These have been the long-accepted goals of liberal education. In a liberal education, students should come to know and appre ciate a variety of disciplines, know them at an appropriate depth, see the interconnectedness of the disciplines, or the modes of thought, and finally have some critical disposition toward what is being learned, to be genuinely open minded about intellectual things. These liberal goals are contrasted with goals such as professional training, job preparation, promotion of self-esteem, social engineering, entertainment, or countless other putative purposes of schooling that are enunciated by politicians, administrators, and educators. The book's argument might be consistent with other views of education especially ones about the training of specialists (sometimes called a professional view of education)-but the argument fits best with a liberal view of education. The liberal hope has always been that if education is done well, then other per sonal and social goods will follow. The development of informed, critical, and moral capacities is the cornerstone for personal and social achievements.

Syllbus designed to give students who are not continuing study in the subject an understanding of science. Emphasises the social relevance of science and major problems facing the world, such as over-population, pollution, conservation and resource utilization.