Primary school is a critical window for building enthusiasm and engagement in science and developing communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills. Scientific literacy for primary- aged children involves purposeful and active engagement with science ideas and real-world contexts, to discuss and apply scientific thinking. There is a growing recognition of the role of oracy in learning and in the context of science, providing opportunities to use and apply scientific vocabulary and knowledge.
This literature review maps the current landscape for scientific literacy and oracy in the context of primary school education in the UK, with the aim to identify challenges, gaps and opportunities for oracy-rich primary science (ages 5-11).
The key finding from this review is that oracy, scientific literacy, and the power of utilising both together, are not made sufficiently explicit in guidance or literature. Making the link between scientific literacy and oracy clearer, will raise the profile of oracy-rich primary science and help to demonstrate how dialogue can support the development and application of scientific thinking.
The following recommendations are made for the Royal Society and others in the sector:
- Promote oracy-rich primary science as a means to develop and apply science thinking, by making this more explicit in guidance, resources and curricula
- Demonstrate the value of oracy-rich primary science by exemplifying what this looks like for different ages and across topics, so that teachers and schools have clear examples to apply to their own context
- Provide an age-appropriate definition and associated examples of scientific literacy for primary schools to underscore the importance of applying science ideas and thinking.
The Royal Society thanks Professor Sarah Earle, Dr Anne Parfitt, and Dr Stuart Read for this piece of work and agrees with the recommendations. We will seek to link oracy and literacy within our Schools Engagement activities and work with others across the sector to promote oracy-rich primary science.
Further information
Apply for a Partnership Grant to support and embed scientific literacy and oracy through an investigative project with primary children in the classroom.