This paper reviews, from the perspective of the discipline of science education (‘didactics of science’), recent and current philosophy of science in order to find a meta-theoretical conception of what a scientific model is that has educational value and is tuned with the possibility of designing an authentic school scientific activity for primary and secondary science classes. The semantic conception of models, and especially the idea of theoretical model as proposed by the American philosopher of science Ronald Giere, seem adequate when fostering a convergence, in the science classroom, between theoretical thinking, discourse with specialised semiotic hybrids, and an intentional and value-laden intervention to transform the natural world.