Children's perceptions of school science

Abstract

A survey of over a thousand 8–11 year-old children in primary schools indicated that children in the more senior classes showed a marked decline in their enjoyment of school science. Older children found certain scienc e topics – such as parts of the flower and evaporation – difficult, chiefly because of the complex terminology involved. There were clear differences between boys and girls: girl s generally held more positive attitudes toward s school science. The authors consider thes e results in relation to the content and teaching of primary science. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the well-documented erosion in children’s interest in school science at secondary level has already started in t he final years of primary school. We analysed approximately one thousand questionnaires in whic h children recorded the science topics they liked, their attitudes to s cience and their favourite subject. I n addition, we gathered evidence from oral discussions about science between children and their class teachers. This article summarises our findings and their implications for the teaching of s chool science at primary level.

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