ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how a mentor can support a beginning teacher to grapple with elements of the nature of science (NoS), especially in planning practical activities found in the secondary school curriculum. It suggests mentoring strategies to support a beginning teacher to incorporate health and safety procedures in practical-based science lessons. The chapter highlights the importance of an inquiry-based approach to planning and teaching. Practical work is an important aspect of teaching and learning science. It offers many opportunities to develop pupils’ understanding of the NoS, such as the reliance of science on empirical data, testing predictions and hypotheses, and fair testing. The beginning teacher should include the nine elements of the NoS in planning for a practical activity, that is: making hypotheses, making predictions, identifying variables, accurate use and handling of equipment, making careful observations, making inferences, tables and graphs, drawing conclusions, and evaluations.
