Science is essential, exciting, and often enlightening, but it’s not without its quirks. Like any other subject, teaching science comes with its challenges. These challenges, if left unchecked, can turn the classroom from a hub of wonder into a field of frustration.
In school, science subjects can feel like separate countries on a map, chemistry here, physics over there, and biology miles away. But real science isn’t like that; it’s more of a tangled spaghetti mess where everything connects. Teaching science in silos makes students wonder if the subjects are distant cousins who only meet at weddings. A little crossover between physics and chemistry could make learning more cohesive and exciting.
Find out more about designing a science curriculum here.
2. The Sin of “Repeat After Me”
“Repeat after me: ‘The mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cell.’” This may be true, but does you know why it’s important, or what that means? Memorising facts without understanding them is like collecting phone numbers without ever making a call. To really get science, students need to dive into the why and the how, not just the “say this because it’s on the exam.”
3. The Sin of the Ivory Tower
Science that stays in the textbook might as well be ancient history, science needs experiments. Experiments let students play scientist, complete with “Eureka!” moments. Without practical work, science feels like a story someone else is telling. Let’s put more beakers and less boredom in classrooms.
4. The Sin of “When Will I Ever Use This?”
We’ve all heard it: “When will I ever need this?” It’s the anthem of bored students everywhere. Science teachers face the challenge of linking Newton’s Laws to football, climate science to the news, or DNA to family trees. Making lessons relatable can be a game-changer. If students can’t see science in their everyday lives, it just becomes a pile of facts waiting to be forgotten.
6. The Sin of Underprepared Heroes
Teachers are the superheroes of the classroom, but even superheroes need training. Without the right support, science teachers might feel like they’re expected to run a marathon after they have just finished the ‘couch to 5k’ app. Continuous, engaging professional development is key. That way, teachers can bring in fresh ideas and not repeating the same lessons and expecting different outcomes.
6. The Sin of Unequal Chances
Not all science labs are created equal. Some have all the gadgets and glassware any budding chemist could only dream of, while others are lucky to have a single Bunsen burner that looks older than the teacher. The uneven playing field means that while some students get to enjoy full-scale experiments, others get… diagrams or videos. Let’s aim for more “hands-on” and less “imagine this.”
7. The Sin of Lone Wolves
In reality, science doesn’t work alone—it needs its friends, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. Too often, these subjects don’t talk to each other in schools. Teaching science without technology or maths is like trying to bake a cake without mixing the ingredients. Encouraging projects where students build bridges, program robots, or calculate rocket trajectories can show how these fields team up in the real world.
You can develop shared approaches to maths and science here.
These seven sins can make science less fun, less impactful, and less accessible. But the good news?
They’re all fixable! With a bit more creativity, CPD, support, and collaboration, science in schools can become an engaging adventure!