Australian preparatory students' representation of their knowledge of the nature of science

This study makes a unique contribution to the field of science education. Few studies have investigated the prior knowledge of the nature of science that Australian Preparatory students bring to their learning and how they represent that knowledge. Understanding students' prior knowledge enables teachers to build on it to develop engaging and relevant science lessons for young learners. Affording students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the nature of science is important for future citizens to contribute responsibly to contemporary socioscientific issues and the unexpected consequences that accompany them.