ABSTRACT
The big idea in this chapter is about the nature of scientific explanations. By following in Darwin’s footsteps children learn that scientific explanations are subject to rigorous testing, and supported with reliable evidence before they are trusted. The chapter contains three topics, designed to help teachers guide the way children work towards understanding the big idea. The journey starts in key stage 1, when children begin to find out things about the natural world by asking questions and doing something to discover the answers. In lower key stage 2, children engage with the collaborative nature of science, and learn that a scientific explanation requires evidence to back it up. By engaging with Darwin’s science in upper key stage 2, children learn to appreciate the value of rigorous testing, so that the evidence produced to support a theory is reliable. Subject knowledge to support the teaching of the big idea is presented at the beginning of the chapter.
