Making Sense of Secondary Science

When children begin secondary school they already have knowledge and ideas about many aspects of the natural world from their experiences both in primary classes and outside school. These ideas, right or wrong, form the basis of all they subsequently learn and research has shown that teaching is unlikely to be effective unless it takes into account the position from which the learner starts. MAKING SENSE OF SECONDARY SCIENCE: Research into Children's Ideas provides a concise, accessible summary of the research that has been done internationally in this area. THek research findings are arranged in three main sectins: life and living processes, materials and their properties and physical processes. Full bibliographies in each section allow interested readers to pursue the themes further. Much of this material has hitherto been available only in limited circulation specialist journals or in unpublished research. Its publication in this convenient from will be welcomed by all resarchers in science educatin and by practising science teachers continuing their professional development, who want to deepen their understanding of how their children think and learn.
Rosalind Driver is Professor of Science Education at the University of Leeds, Ann Squires has recently retired from Leeds LEA, Peter Rushworth teaches at Alwoodley Primary School, Leeds and Valerie Wood-Robinson is head of science at Cardinal Heenan Roman Catholic High School, Leeds.