Science Education for Gifted Learners

Asks how science teachers can make their classes more stimulating and challenging for the most able students to encourage them to continue their science education beyond compulsory schooling.

Science is central to our modern technological society, yet many of the most able pupils who could become the scientists of tomorrow turn away from science as soon as they have a choice in their studies. Science is often seen to be difficult or boring, and fails to engage or challenge those who are most suited to excel in scientific studies.

This book asks what classroom teachers can do to make sure that their science teaching is stimulating and challenging for their students. Topics covered include:

• what do we mean by gifted and able children?
• gifted children that slip through the net
• challenging science through modelling
• asking questions in science
• exploring topical issues
• challenging science through talk
• after-school enrichment.

Set in the wider context of debates about the provision for those labelled ‘gifted’ and ‘exceptionally able’, this book explores the meaning of these categories, and considers what they may imply in such approaches as setting, streaming, acceleration and enrichment.