Pacific Primary Science: A Guide for Teachers

Abstract

As a primary school teacher, how do you feel about teaching science? Take a few moments to write down some of your feelings about this question. It may be that you have no choice about teaching science. You might have to teach science whether or no you want to. This is true for many primary teachers in the Pacific Islands. Unfortunately some teachers do not enjoy having to teach science. They feel that they do not know enough science themselves to teach the subject well. They are frightened that their pupils will ask them questions they cannot answer, and they lack confidence. This is true for many primary teachers in western countries as well. It is also one of the reasons so much science is taught on the blackboard, with pupils copying down facts and memorizing them with very little discussion.