Last week the staff had a brilliant afternoon and evening with Warren Bruce, a local science expert and teacher educator. The session was packed with lots of practical investigations and explored the 'Nature of Science'. The nature of science is the overarching and unifying strand in the New Zealand science curriculum document.
The nature of science as a way of thinking refers to ‘thinking with a particular lens’ – just as the nature of history would be thinking through a historical lens. This particular way of thinking is underpinned by certain values and characteristics (such as in science, creativity, curiosity, attempts to reduce bias and empiricism).
Next term all students will participate in a range of 'hands-on' science activities to develop their knowledge of scientific thinking. Skills such as creativity, making careful observations, being curious, being honest when communicating and asking questions as a result of an event are just some of the skills we will aim to develop. I am sure you will agree that these are things that can be applied in any context, not just a science one hence our belief that this is such an important learning area.
Here are a few pictures of our teachers as scientists!
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