Social Biology At Primary Level, Together With Evaluation Of Children's Learning From The Material. A Curriculum Development Project.

This thesis evaluates children's learning of social biological concepts. It is the result of a research programme with the aim to introduce social biology to primary school teachers and their pupils. Teaching packs on this subject were developed and teaching methods were suggested. The term social biology is explained and its relevance to the primary curriculum is discussed. A brief outline of the curriculum development in England is given, particularly that of science in primary schools. Two teaching packs on "Food" and "Ecology: Conservation and Pollution" were produced. Pilot work was carried out in primary schools by teachers who had studied social biology. In accordance with these teachers' criticisms adjustments were made to both teaching packs. Questionnaire worksheets were designed to test knowledge acquired as a result of using the materials. Participating teachers administered these to random groups of children before work on the topic "Food" began. A group of children whose teachers did not use the teaching packs acted as controls. New tests were designed for both topics in an attempt to discover if children had acquired concepts relevant to their social biological studies. A pilot test was carried out, followed by a second trial of the topic "Food", and the first trial of the topic "Ecology: Conservation and Pollution". The researcher administered "before" and "after" tests to random groups of participating children and to a control group. A computer program was used to analyse the data of both surveys. The results are discussed and conclusions drawn about the test and the test results. In the light of the evidence suitability of work in social biology at primary level is considered, together with suggestions for further work.