Designed to help primary school teachers build a multicultural dimension into their teaching of science, this book provides a wide variety of practical ideas for use in both multi-ethnic and all-white classrooms. The contributors also examine the underlying rationale for a multicultural approach to science education.

Designed to help primary school teachers build a multicultural dimension into their teaching of science, this book provides a wide variety of practical ideas for use in both multi-ethnic and all-white classrooms. The contributors also examine the underlying rationale for a multicultural approach to science education.

Given the National Curriculum Council's failure to issue any formal guidance on the subject, multicultural education is becoming increasingly marginalized and left to individual schools. This book provides guidance and advice to schools on issues of racial equality and cultural diversity. It helps teachers, managers and governors implement the requirements and expectations of new educational legislation since the 1988 Education Reform Act and its associated non-statutory advice and guidance.; Within a whole school curriculum framework, chapters provide analysis and practical guidance for each subject area of the National Curriculum. With responsibility for multicultural education resting largely on individual schools, this book sets out to aid schools of all kinds, primary, secondary, grant maintained and LEA, to ensure that issues of racial equality and cultural diversity are addressed throughout the whole curriculum.; It is aimed at teachers at all levels, Heads of Education Departments, Mentors, Governors, Advisers, INSET course tutors, students on PGCE, BEd.MEd. courses and those doing a BA in Education.

The final volume of four, the authors consider how the concerns of ethnic groups may be addressed within the framework of the National Curriculum. Despite the indecision surrounding primary school curriculum, it remains that the multicultural nature of the population and of schools will develop.

This book describes the development of children's enquiry skills offering a rationale and theoretical basis for teaching and learning using this approach and showing its particular relevance to scientific enquiries. The teacher's role is discussed and practical suggestions are given to stimulate effective classroom practice. The author shows how children's ideas can be supported, challenged and assessed, and considers how to resource enquiries and expand these within the school and local environment. The nature of knowledge is explored, with a focus on scientific knowledge about our world. Communication and language skills are discussed, emphasising effective questioning and ways to encourage children's questions. Guidance is given as to how to promote and integrate problem-solving skills into class teaching, particularly in practical cross-curricular and technological projects. The book will be of great value to both student and practising primary school teachers as well as providing informed support for parents and governors.

The final volume of four, the authors, all specialists in the areas of the curriculum, consider how the concerns of ethnic groups may be addressed within the framework of the National Curriculum. Despite the indecision surrounding the structure, content, pedagogy and assessment of many components of the primary school curriculum, it remains that the multicultural nature of the population and of schools will develop. These developments and their educational implications must be considered if the educational system is to respond adequately.

Throughout the Western world, the relationship between gender, science and math ematics has emerged as critical in a variety of contexts. In tertiary institutions, the study of "gender issues", frequently with reference to science and mathematics, is of central significance to many disciplines. Gender studies are being offered as sepa rate courses or parts of existing courses in preservice and postgraduate teacher edu cation, women's studies, technology studies and policy studies. In addition, in the broader context of education at all levels from primary/elementary through to higher, concerned policy-makers and practitioners frequently focus on the interaction of gender, science and mathematics in their attempts to reform and improve education for all students. In all of these contexts, there is an urgent need for suitable texts, both to provide resources for teachers and students and to inform policy-makers and practitioners. This book has been developed specifically to meet this need. It is designed to be used throughout the world in a variety of tertiary courses and by policy-makers concerned with activities which interface with the gender/science/mathematics rela tionship. It provides examples which illustrate vividly the rich field from which practitioners and policy-makers in this area now can draw. Its particular appeal will stem from its practical approach and creative future perspective, the international renown of the authors and the generalisability of the recent research and thinking presented in each of the chapters.

Becoming a confident and informed teacher of primary science requires a strong understanding of key practical, conceptual and pedagogical issues that underpin best practice science teaching in the primary school. Addressing current curriculum concerns, the dynamic nature of the curriculum landscape, and the wider challenges of developing good practice in science education, Primary Science provides an indispensable overview of important areas of teaching that every aspiring primary school teacher needs to understand. Written directly for initial teacher education students, this textbook supports classroom practice and provides a broad survey of key aspects of primary science teaching including: the role of science in the curriculum, communication and literacy in science teaching, science outside the classroom, teaching science to all, transitional issues, and assessment.