Using socioscientific issues in primary classrooms

In this article, we provide three examples of the use of socioscientific issues (SSI) in a 5th-grade classroom. Taken from Earth science (beach sand replacement), life science (the Canadian seal hunt), and physical science (speed limits), the examples show how teachers can embed scientific content in controversial social issues that engage younger students in constructive sociomoral discourse. Each example includes a preliminary learning activity as well as a description of the SSI scenario and its results. The potential of SSI to inspire preservice elementary science methods students to teach more science and create their own modules is also discussed.