Elementary Science Education as a Site for Joy and Justice

In this commentary, we describe the current state of elementary science education and suggest directions for future research. We frame it around five broad themes that include the unique strengths of the elementary context; the role of sensemaking and play; emerging technologies; systemic conditions; and equity and justice. Throughout, we remain committed to the idea that children are capable and brilliant scientific thinkers and that elementary teachers are uniquely qualified professionals with valuable expertise that should be honored and supported. Furthermore, we advocate that elementary science can be a place of joy, inquiry, and democratic participation as well as a place where learners can cultivate an awareness of harms and injustices of science and how we must work toward a more just and sustainable world. We invite researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to sustain and deepen the work around elementary science teaching and learning.