Over the past 30 years, children's perception of the physical sciences has changed quite dramatically. Thanks largely to the advent of personal computers and the rise of the hacker as hero, whizz-kid scientists in big glasses have made the transition from pitiable wimps to objects of admiration. If he'd originated in the 21st century, Brains from 'Thunderbirds' would probably have been the main character, instead of just the comic sidekick to the action men.
But if the non-life sciences have become cool, their mind-bogglingly complex achievements have, at the same time, made them seem particularly daunting to teach, especially for those working at primary school level. Most of us could have a stab at explaining how the steam engine works; few of us would like to try doing the same for the computer.
However, the good news for the non-specialist is that having a close acquaintance with white coats and higher maths can actually hamper one's effectiveness as a teacher of early science. At the pre-school and Key Stage 1 level, the job has much more to do with fostering habits of curiosity and observation than instilling the laws of physics.
Understanding has to begin in the child's own world, with shadows, seesaws and boats in the bath. If you're up in the stratosphere of scientific endeavour, it can become difficult to get back to basics.
Once you stop taking things for granted (the wind blows your hat off, but how? Things fall to the ground when they're dropped, but why?), you begin to see that opportunities for investigation are all around. In most cases, you won't need specialist equipment to set up your explorations, although you may have to go to the educational suppliers for such things as powerful magnets, precision measuring devices and simple electric circuitry.
If you're short of cupboard-scouring time, the catalogues can come to your rescue with pre-assembled collections of everyday objects - Galt's (08702 424 477) Sink or Float? kit, for example. The suppliers can also kick-start your ideas. For instance, Philip and Tacey's (01264 332 171) extensive set of Observe & Explore workcards, developed by teachers in Mid Glamorgan, is packed with excellent suggestions presented clearly enough to satisfy the most reluctant boffin.
