Top 10 Misconceptions in Middle Primary Science

Science is a relatively new topic for a student in P3 and P4 levels. These two years are the best times to inject fun during lessons and stimulate students’ interest in this subject before they learn to tackle tougher Science questions, especially the open-ended section in upper primary levels.

While having fun learning new topics and carrying out hands-on Science experiments, do also ensure that your child has fully understood key concepts learnt in each topic and avoid any misconceptions they might have.

In this article, let’s take a look at some commonly misunderstood concepts that P3 and P4 students might have in some of the topics.

Misconception 1

Many P3 students think that as long as something has some of the characteristics of living things, it is a living thing.

The truth is …

The object must have ALL the characteristics of a living thing. Characteristics include need air, food and water for survival, can grow, will die, respond to changes, etc.

Misconception 2

Some students think that moss and ferns are fungi.

The truth is …

Moss and ferns are non-flowering plants that reproduce by spores. Students tend to associate all living things that reproduce by spores as fungi.

Misconception 3

Some students think that all fish lay eggs and all birds can fly.

The truth is …

Some fish give birth to young alive. Though all birds have wings, not all birds can fly like emu, ostrich, etc. Note that in the syllabus, students are not required to know which type of fish lay eggs or give birth to young alive.

Misconception 4

Many of the children, even some adults, think that all bacteria are harmful.

The truth is …

There are also useful bacteria that help humans in their daily lives. For example, the bacteria in Yakult drinks that help in maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Misconception 5

Many students think that materials refer to only those that come naturally from our environment.

The truth is …

There are many man-made materials around us. The most common ones are plastic, glass, alloys (made of different metals), etc.

Misconception 6

Some students think that if 2 objects attract each other, both must be magnets.

The truth is …

One object is a magnet and the other object can be made of a magnetic material which is not a magnet. Only two objects that repel each other must be magnets.

Misconception 7

A lot of students are confused between heat and temperature. They think that both are the same.

The truth is …

Heat is a form of energy while temperature is a measure of how hot something is. Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (0°C).

Misconception 8

A lot of students struggle with this concept. They think that an object with a higher temperature must have more heat energy than an object with a lower temperature.

The truth is …

Other than temperature, the size of an object also determines how much more heat energy an object will have over another object. For example, a smaller object with the same temperature as a bigger object will have less heat energy.

Misconception 9

Some students, even those in upper primary levels, think that “coldness” can travel from a cold object to a hot object.

The truth is …

Only heat travels from a hotter region to a colder region. The concept of “Coldness” travels is NEVER taught in our local primary schools!

Misconception 10

A minority of students think that the moon is a source of light.

The truth is …

Moon is not a source of light. It merely reflects light from the sun which makes it look bright. Other sources of light include stars, fire, etc.

Conclusion

Do ensure that your child learns the key concepts in each topic properly. Clear any misconceptions as soon as possible before the problems snowball. Use the mind map at the back of each topic to help your child summarise and check his understanding of concepts learnt.