The purpose of this study is to investigate misconceptions in sciencematerials (textbooks and teachers' guides). These misconceptions might influencestudents' science concept learning. This study uses the unit about electric motorsin the elementary science textbook, Volume 12, and in the teachers' guide as anexample to explain how these misconceptions might mislead students and teachersto have alternative ideas. In the unit about electric motors, the teachingmaterials discuss the repulsion of like magnetic poles. Therefore, this might leadstudents to believe that the movement of an electric motor is caused by therepulsion of like magnetic poles. This study illustrates the principle of a simpleDC electric motor. It also discusses the confusion caused by the content oftextbooks. Some suggestions are made for a new elementary curriculum to avoidmisconceptions and to improve teaching effectiveness.