SCIENCE
What is Science About?
Science is about investigating, understanding and explaining our natural, physical world and the wider universe.
How is Science Structured in the New Zealand Curriculum?
Achievement aims are grouped by strand at each level.
The Nature of Science Strand is the overarching unifying strand.
The Living World is about living things and how they interact with each other and the environment.
Planet Earth and Beyond is about the earth, the other parts of the solar system and the universe beyond.
The Physical World provides explanations for a wide range of physical phenomena including light, sound, heat, electricity, magnetism, waves, forces and motion united by the concept of energy.
The Material World involves the study of matter and the changes it undergoes.
How is Science Taught in our school?
Concepts
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Strands
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Enduring Understandings
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Possible Contexts
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Sustainability
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Nature of Science
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Living World
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All living things have certain requirements in order to survive
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Farming
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Conservation
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Forestry
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NZ Bush
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Water cycle
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Food chain
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Global warming
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Endangered species
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Antarctica/Animals and food chain
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Coastal processes Erosion
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Recycling
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Global Change
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Wetlands
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Rainforest
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The rocky shore
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Power sources wind/solar energy Hydro Electricity
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Oil
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Coal
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Water cycle
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Conservation/forestry
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Natural gas
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Planet earth and Beyond
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Informed decisions should be made about protection and wise use in order to sustain earth’s resources because they are finite
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Concepts
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Strands
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Enduring Understandings
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Possible Contexts
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Change
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Nature of Science
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Living World
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Living things change and adapt over time
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Life Cycles
Rocky Shore
Evolution
Endangered Species
Eco-system
Genetics
Antarctica
Dinosaurs
Adaptation & Interdependence of plants & animals
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Planet earth and Beyond
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We are part of a changing Universe
Changes in landforms over time can occur as a result of the effect of heat, water, pressure and human activity
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Life cycles
Weather
Erosions
Water cycle
Volcanoes
Space
Night & Day
Shadows
Tectonic Plates
Land Forms
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Concepts
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Strands
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Enduring Understandings
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Possible Contexts
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Energy
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Nature of Science
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Physical World
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There are different forms of energy and resources (ie. sound, light, movement, forces)
Forces can be harnessed to create energy.
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Solar energy
Cells and circuits
Torches
Traffic lights
Wind turbines
Hydroelectric power
Coal. Pellet. Wood fires
Heat/light. electricity/sound/magnetism
Push/Pull (bikes), pulleys and wind
Insulation
Water/Dams/Tides
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Material World
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Chemical reactions occur around us all the time
Chemical and physical changes occur when materials are mixed, heated or cooled.
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Melting, freezing, fizzing, foaming, dissolving, boiling, beating, shaking
Kitchen chemistry
Evaporation
Burning
Biofuel/Burwood plant
Thermometers/ measuring heat
Fibre and Fabrics
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Concepts
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Strands
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Enduring Understandings
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Possible Contexts
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Systems and structures
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Nature of Science
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Living World
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All living things are classified into groups and can be grouped in different ways.
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Photosynthesis
Classification of plants and animals.
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Planet earth and Beyond
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Earth’s four interconnecting systems (air, water, land and life) interact with the solar system to support life on planet earth
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Weather systems
Seasons
Weather forecasting
The Solar System
Moon patterns
Night and Day
Water system
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Physical World
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Physical phenomena e.g. sound, light, movement have patterns and trends.
Interactions occur between parts of the physical world.
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Sound
Light
Movement/pulleys/gears/forces
Magnets
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Material World
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Materials can be grouped according to their physical and chemical properties
The properties of materials can be used to explain the changes they undergo.
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Fabric & Fibre
Kitchen chemistry
Cooking
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