Some pre-service teaching activities can contribute much to the learning of pedagogical content
knowledge (PCK) and subsequent teaching as these activities are generating PCK within the
pre-service teacher’s own classroom. Three examples are described: preparing exhibitions of science
experiments, assessing preconceptions, and teaching using embedded formative assessment in which
assessment leads teaching and almost inevitably results in the development of PCK. Evidence for the
effectiveness of the methods is based on the author’s experience in teacher education programmes in
different countries, but will need to be confirmed by research.