ABSTRACT
Why undertake practical work in science? To many, the relationship between science and practical works seems so self-evident that the question is hardly worth asking. It is almost like saying ‘Why is a circle round?’. A circle is round because roundness is what defines a circle; we do practical work in science because science is a practical subject! But this kind of justification clearly needs examining. There has been a lot of research and debate about what pupils really learn from practical work and how the use of practical work can be made more effective.
