ABSTRACT
Perhaps the feature of school science which most clearly differentiates it from other subjects of the curriculum is that science classes take place in laboratories and involve students and teachers in carrying out practical investigations and demonstrations. In the UK, which has a long tradition of small-group practical work in school science, 11–13-year-olds typically spend over half of their science lesson time in practical activities (Beatty and Woolnough, 1982). For 16–18-year-olds the share of time allocated to practical work is still likely to be more than one-third (Thompson, 1975).
