JONAED

The study determined the effectiveness of practical activities in enhancing Basic Science academic performance of lower primary school pupils. The study adopted pre-test, post-test, non equivalent control group quasi-experimental Design. Two primary schools were selected in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria using simple random sampling technique. Primary three pupils from two intact classes with class size between 18 to 25 pupils were purposively selected for the study. The instruments used for data collection was “Pupils’ Basic Science Practical Activities Test” (PBSPAT) which was designed to test pupils’ knowledge of Basic Science. The reliability coefficient (r) was calculated for Pupils Basic Science Practical Activities Test (PBSPAT) using test- retest method of spearman’s rho (ρ). The reliability value for PBSPAT was found to be 0.75. Data collected was analyzed using t-test. The result showed that there was a significant difference in the academic performance of pupils’ in practical activities group compared with that of the teacher-directed group. The study concluded that the practical activities strategy is more effective in improving Basic science academic performance of lower primary school pupils and therefore, recommends that primary school teachers should employ the use of this strategy in enhancing teaching and learning of Basic Science.