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Understanding Primary Science
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Understanding Primary Science

Third Edition
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December 2009 | 296 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Now in its Third Edition, this text provides the background knowledge primary teachers need to plan effective programmes of work and answer children's questions with confidence. The new edition links explanations of scientific concepts with children's everyday experiences to help teachers and trainees foresee how they will present the subject knowledge to their pupils.

Shaped by the National Curriculum, this text explains key scientific theories and concepts which pupils at primary level, including very able children, need in order to understand the observations and investigations they undertake. A CD ROM of 200 science investigations for young students is included with the new edition, allowing teachers to explore the practical application of topics covered in the book.

This is an essential book for teachers, student teachers and anyone interested in the roots and growth of science education.

 
PART ONE: DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
 
Helping Children to Become Scientific
 
PART TWO: LIFE PROCESSES AND LIVING THINGS
 
Life processes
 
Humans and Other Animals
 
Plants
 
Variation, Classification, Adaption and the Environment
 
PART THREE: MATERIALS AND THEIR PROPERTIES
 
Matter
 
Grouping and Classifying Materials
 
Changing, Combining and Separating Materials
 
PART FOUR: PHYSICAL PROCESSES
 
Electricity
 
Forces and Motion
 
Gravity and Magnetism
 
Sound and Light
 
The Earth and Beyond

Added to supplental list

Mrs Jayne Barnes
Education , Manchester Metropolitan University
April 28, 2011

A very thorough explanation of the key issues with good examples used to explain concepts.
Good layout - easy to find information.

Joy Carroll
Institute of Education, Worcester University
March 15, 2011

This is a very useful text but the information is already covered in other texts we have adopted for this course. The inclusion of practical activities on the CD is a welcome asset. Scientific theories and concepts are discussed within the book, the information is easy to access and links to practice

Mrs Michelle Williams
applied health sciences, Farnborough College of Technology
November 13, 2010

Grea for addressing common misconceptions

Ms Shehnaz Tharia
School of Education & Training, Greenwich University
November 4, 2010

This book is extremely useful for teacher trainees for background reading and the CD with all the experiments related to various topics does prove to be useful resource.

Dr Namrata Rao
Education Deanery, Liverpool Hope University
October 15, 2010

A useful addition to the core texts we currently use

Mr Keith Hicks
School of Education, Roehampton University
September 24, 2010

This book is useful to our students studying on the BA Education Honours degree.
It is well written and easy to access relevant information related to primary science for students who need their knowledge and understanding of primary science reinforcing.

Kathy Schofield
Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University
June 29, 2010

I like the way that some of the concepts are linked to practical activities which trainees can undertake to support their learning.

Mr Wayne Stallard
Education , Portsmouth Primary SCITT
February 9, 2010

The CD Rom accompanying this book is very useful with clear, well descibed and practical science investigations. Subject knowledge is readily accessed and the opening chapter is useful on investigative approaches.

Mrs Sarah Hindmarsh
School of Education, Nottingham Trent University
January 15, 2010
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New to the 3rd edition:

  • A new author, Peter Ovens, on board
  • More links to children's everyday experiences
  • A CD Rom of 200 science experiments
  • More student-friendly layout
  • Additional illustrations and photographs

Sample Materials & Chapters

Part One