The place of investigations in practical work in the UK National Curriculum for Science

The introduction of the National Curriculum in the UK has meant that teachers are having to take a closer look at practical work, particularly in view of the priority apportioned to scientific investigations. Consequently there is a need to clarify the principal learning outcomes of different types of practical work. In order to do this, the aims of the science curriculum as a whole are considered in terms of conceptual and procedural understanding and, in particular, with the key issue of understanding ‘concepts of evidence’. The role of different types of practical work is then considered in the light of the overall aims of the science curriculum. Investigations emerge as a way of providing pupils with the opportunity to achieve an understanding of the concepts of evidence and hence a thorough grasp of procedural understanding whilst at the same time allowing pupils to use and develop their conceptual understanding.