Teaching Science in Primary School

Starting this year, science has been taught as early as in primary 1. Previously, science only being taught in upper primary whereas the lower primary students are used to learn Pelajaran Am. Science education prepares students for lifelong learning through scientific enquiry and science-based skills. In the SPN21, teaching strategies such as inquiry learning and discovery learning are recommended in teaching Science. This will give the opportunity for the students to do hands on activity and work independently either in a group or pair work. Resulting from that, students will find it more interesting and for better understanding.

Basically, Science have lots to do with experiment and demonstration. An old adage states :

I listen and I forget,

I see and I remember,

I do and I understand.

I do and I understand. The last pace of this statement is the essence of enquiry-base learning, which implies that involvement leads to understanding. Hence, enquiry is considered central to science learning.

Every schools are supplied with Science teaching materials that can be used by teachers and students. However, not having a science lab may be a problem to some science teacher. In my former school, we don't have science lab. So i find it a bit difficult to teach science in the classroom as i have no easy access to the science apparatus and the classroom is not so suitable to do activities and also demonstration.

A field trip is another examples of learning activities that can be done in learning Science. It provide the pupils with first hand experiences, to stimulate interest and curiosity, to provide insights into the applications of science in real life situations and to promote the development of science process skills through field activities.