ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the aspect of science that is often the greatest source of joy for many students and teachers. It discusses a range of issues associated with experimental work in a typical school laboratory classroom and explores the role of practical science in supporting student's conceptual understanding. The chapter focuses on two main aspects of practical work: demonstrations: the classic 'front-bench demo'; and class practicals: experiments and investigations. There are a lot of myths around this area of science teaching, suggesting that virtually all of the 'fun stuff' has been banned for being too dangerous. They include the precautions that should be taken and recommend actions that should be taken if anything goes wrong. Instructions for practical work can be provided in different ways. The most important reason for doing practical work in science is to reinforce the core philosophical underpinning of the subject. Experiments are real problem-solving situations that give great satisfaction.
