Smith also describes some ways in which PCK contributes to more effective science teaching and some barriers to its successful use in elementary science lessons.
Substantive knowledge refers to the concepts, principles and laws of a particular area of science.
For example, understanding wave models of light would be substantive knowledge about light and its behavior. Syntactical knowledge refers to understanding current norms that scientists hold acceptable in a particular area of science. A second aspect of PCK includes knowledge about how to design teaching and classroom activities so as to facilitate children's understanding of a scientific topic. In the chapter, Smith provides a number of examples of her uses of PCK, and how it has changed and grown in her teaching. She also describes her work with experienced and preservice teachers.