Research School Network: Reading and Writing Science….

Although obviously aimed at secondary school teachers (the clue is in the name!) the EEF’s Guidance Report Improving Secondary Science makes for interesting reading for primary practitioners- especially those who work in upper key stage two. Many of the recommendations build on the skills and knowledge developed in primary schools; none more so that recommendation 6 – develop scientific vocabulary and support pupils to read and write about science. As this recommendation explains, to become competent in the language of science pupils need to be able to comprehend, analyse and interpret texts and use the language of science to explain ideas and construct evidence-based explanations. It is important that pupils have the opportunity to engage with authentic scientific books and texts, but it can be a challenge to find appropriate materials, written by scientists, with a younger audience in mind. The challenge is to present the ideas in a clear and accessible way, but maintain the structure and format that is typically found in scientific papers and articles. Below are a few of easily available (and often free) sources of articles and reports, written with a younger audience in mind.

Frontiers for Young Minds

Kids.frontiersin.org

A great free online journal, packed with articles from an editorial board filled with children.

The Week Junior, and their new publication Science and Nature

https://theweekjunior.co.uk/

https://sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk/

Excellent for current affairs, topical articles from around the world and a wide selection of articles about science and nature

Science News for Students

Sciencenewsforstudents.org

From the USA, a wide range of STEM topics, shared in a number of different ways: news stories, features, explainers, invention and innovation, and how to get into research

Kids National Geographic

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/

Great magazine with a fab website too.

There is sure to be something in these to excite and enthuse any primary classroom about science and the fascinating things we can learn.