Teaching Primary Science Constructively,
7th Edition

Keith Skamp, Christine Preston, Contributing Authors

ISBN-13: 9780170443401
Copyright 2021 | Published
656 pages | List Price: USD $83.75

Teaching Primary Science Constructively helps you to create effective science learning experiences for primary students. This bestselling text explains the principles of constructivism and their implications for learning and teaching science. Chapters also provide research-based and practical ideas for implementing a constructivist approach. Throughout the text, there are strong links to the key ideas, themes and terminology of the revised Australian Curriculum: Science.

Purchase Enquiry INSTRUCTOR’S eREVIEW COPY

Part 1: Teaching primary science
1. Primary science: every teacher, every child
2. Constructivist views of learning and teaching science
3. Implementing the Australian Curriculum: Science with a constructivist mindset
4. Thinking and working scientifically

Part 2: Teaching the Australian Curriculum: Science strands
5. Energy
6. Electricity
7. Movement and force
8. Living things and environments
9. Living things: a technologies context
10. Materials and their properties
11. Physical and chemical change
12. Our place in space
13. Our planet Earth
14. Weather and our environment
15. Final reflections

Appendix 1: At a glance: key teaching and learning strategies and other pedagogical topics
Appendix 2: At a glance: key content knowledge

  • Keith Skamp

    KEITH SKAMP is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Southern Cross University. He has held visiting scholar and professorial positions at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York; Durham University, England; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; University of Lethbridge, Canada; and Flinders University, South Australia. Keith has been a lecturer in undergraduate and graduate units in science education, environmental education and research methodology for many years, and has led or been involved in professional and curriculum development initiatives in primary science and environmental education at state, national and international levels. His research and consultancy in science, environmental and sustainability education has included major research reports for the Australian Academy of Science's Primary Connections initiative, as well as for state and federal governments, and has resulted in numerous refereed journal articles and other publications. Keith has received distinguished awards for university teaching and service to the Australasian Science Education Research Association and the Australian Science Teachers' Association.

  • Christine Preston

    CHRISTINE PRESTON is a lecturer in The Sydney School of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney. Christine lectures in primary science education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has been a primary specialist science teacher and maintains current classroom practice teaching Foundation Year science at Abbotsleigh Junior School, Sydney. Christine is a regular presenter at state, national and international science education conferences including being an invited keynote speaker. She is passionate about her mission of actualising high quality science learning for every child. Christine has been involved in curriculum development initiatives in NSW and internationally, and continues to engage in professional development of science education with primary teachers. She is a regular contributor of articles about primary science in the Australian Science Teachers Association journal. Christine’s current research involves toys and students’ representations as aids in learning science concepts. Her consultancy projects include evaluations of primary school science programs and teacher professional development in effective science pedagogy. Christine has received distinguished awards for both school science and university teaching including the Inaugural Rotary Club of Sydney award for Innovation and Excellence in the Vocation of Teaching, the NSW Minister of Education and Australian College of Education (NSW) Quality Teaching Award, and University Teaching Excellence awards.

  • Contributing Authors

    Sarah Earle - Bath Spa University, UK; Peter Hubber - Deakin University; Wendy Jobling - Deakin University; Linda Hobbs - Deakin University; Russell Tytler - Deakin University; Peta White - Deakin University; Maria Filomena Haslam.

  • With the increased interest in STEM skills, this 7th edition further emphasises how to implement STEM in schools and how this is problematic in that there are many ways that its implementation can be interpreted. Relevant content is sign-posted with new STEM icons for easy student navigation

  • Additional case studies and activities, and updated 'Concepts and Understanding' tables, adding to the STEM focus of the text

  • Expanded with additional coverage of hot topics such as the notion of ‘Science Capital’, use of ICT in teaching science and further research on teacher-student interactive talk

  • MindTap for blended learning delivery incorporating readings with student misconceptions polling activities, extensive science teaching activities, video activities, scenarios and rubrics, revision quizzes and more

  • Case study matrix for easy student identification of valuable detailed real-life examples of teaching science in practice

  • Each chapter opens with an introduction, giving readers a clear idea of what the chapter will cover

  • Students engage actively and personally with the material by completing the practical activities in the ‘Professional Learning Activity’ boxes. These help them to assess their own knowledge, beliefs, traits and attitudes, and can also be used to create their own classroom activities

  • Analysing the in-depth case studies that present issues in context, encourage students to integrate and apply the concepts discussed in the chapter to the classroom

  • The ‘Big ideas, concepts and understandings for primary teachers in …’ sections in chapters 5-14 offer readers an opportunity to review their understanding of the key concepts covered in the chapter in preparation for teaching these topics

  • Icons in the margins highlight ideas and discussions that are relevant to key strands and themes from the Australian Curriculum: Science, including: Cross-curriculum priorities (CCP), General Capabilities (GC), Science as a human endeavour (SHE), and new STEM icons

  • 'Go further' margin icons throughout the text indicate extra resources to explore, available from the Instructor Website accompanying this edition

  • ‘Ideas and Connections’ sections at the end of chapters encourage students to revise and reflect on what they have learned

  • Reviewing the ‘Connecting to the curriculum’ sections at the end of relevant chapters show how material in the chapter relates to components of the Australian Curriculum: Science

Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

Instructor Website for Skamp's Teaching Primary Science Constructively
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Teaching Primary Science Constructively Artwork
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Teaching Primary Science Constructively Instructor's Guide
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Teaching Primary Science Constructively PowerPoint Slides
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