When did you first become interested in science? While science in Australia traditionally has been taught only at the secondary and tertiary levels, many people remember their first positive feelings towards science at a much earlier age. It may have been the flush of success on completing a construction activity, the joy of observing animals in the bush, or the fascination of the night sky.
Today we are beginning to realise the importance of cultivating and harnessing the natural curiosity of children, and hence of teaching science at primary school. It is during primary school that attitudes about science and technology are formed and rational problem-solving skills are developed.
In 1989, the federal education department carried out a review of teacher education in mathematics and science. It found science teaching in Australian primary schools was in crisis. While there were energetic and enthusiastic teachers providing worthwhile learning in science, they ...
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