There are a number of potential reasons for teaching children about science in elementary school. Some people, for example, think it is important to focus on science in the early grades to get students interested in science early so that more people will choose to go into a science or science-related career. Some people think that it is important to teach science in the early grades because children ask so many questions about how the world works, and the information included as part of the science curriculum is a great way to answer many of their questions. Others think it is important to focus on science in elementary school because children need a strong foundation in the basics so they will be prepared for what they will be expected to know or do in middle or high school. Few people, however, emphasize the importance of teaching science because it is useful for everyday life (Bybee and Pruitt 2017).

Single user only