Celebrating a Century of Primary Science

Celebrating a Century of Primary Science, published by the ASE in 2001, was written as part of the celebration of the centenary of the ASE, although the ASE became active in encouraging primary science only half-way through the century. The book, of 132 pages, in a collection of personal accounts written by those involved in various projects and activities from which primary science in the UK was formed during the twentieth century.

Aims and objectives:

The book aims to record the story of the innovative projects and the role of particular people in the development of the teaching of science in the primary school during the twentieth century.

Approach The book is a series of chapters written by those involved in the development of primary science. It is edited by Max de Boo and Audrey Randall, who, like the authors, spent a great deal of their working lives introducing primary pupils and primary teachers to the importance and enjoyment of learning and teaching science. Although does not set out to be an archival document, it includes a dated list of key events in science education from 1900 to 2001. Chapters refer to events in Wales and Scotland as well as in England.

Context In 1901 the Science Masters Association was formed, followed in 1912 by the Association of Women Science Teachers. These were the predecessors of the ASE, which was formed from their amalgamation in 1963. Both earlier associations were concerned with secondary school science as there was hardly any science taught in primary schools apart from text-based nature study before 1960. The ASE, however, supported primary science from the start and actively supported the developments described in the chapters of this book.

Contents Preface Chapter 1: Setting the scene Chapter 2: The progressive movement and its effects Chapter 3: To see and admire; not harm or destroy Chapter 4: primary science in the 1950s and 1960s Chapter 5: From nature study to environmental studies Chapter 6: A revolutionary project Chapter 7: Changing perspectives Chapter 8: First and second generation primary science projects Chapter 9: The Assessment of Performance Unit Chapter 10: Primary science – evolution or revolution? Chapter 11: Innovation and experimentation Chapter 12: Teaching infants and influencing national policy Chapter 13: A Welsh perspective Chapter 14: Chairing the Primary Science Committee in changing times Chapter 15: The crab that would not wink Chapter 16: Reminiscences of advisory teachers Chapter 17: From the East End to early years and the ASE Chapter 18: Primary Science arrives Chapter 19: Primary Science: challenges for the future Appendix: What happened when