All children's conceptual frameworks develop from their daily experiences and change as they mature. However, frequently their intuitive understanding of the world around them, does not agree with the scientific concepts explanation. It is important in planning instruction to know how these naïve conceptions differ from the scientific explanation, and why children construct these ideas. The reason for exploring learners' ideas parallels the theory that students' ideas constrained and channeled learning, so knowledge of students' ideas should inform teaching. Teachers should identify their own students existing ideas by diagnostic assessment. Development of complex concepts takes place in many small steps. Missing steps can make the correct explanation illusive or downright unattainable. This makes high-quality, age appropriate instruction at each grade level vital to the development of children's understandings of key science concepts. Some 'constructivist' approaches recommend using students' existing ideas as an explicit starting point for developing new learning.
Much research in science education has focused on students' misconceptions about science. While searching through the literature sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday, there are easier ways to locate common misconceptions. The Operations Physics Project has compiled an extensive list of students' misconceptions on a variety of science topics. Of course, this by no means should be considered the only misconceptions a student might have.