Advertisement
A hopeful and practical approach to Science and Social Sciences in Years 1–3The release of the new Science and Social Sciences curriculum brings another significant change for New Zealand schools.
For many teachers and leaders, it also brings a familiar set of questions.
How will we fit this into a school day already crowded by literacy and numeracy expectations? How do we make sense of detailed curriculum content without overwhelming teachers or young learners? How do we meet new expectations while continuing to teach in ways that are responsive, relational and grounded in what we know about children’s development?
These are reasonable concerns.
The development of the new curriculum has been controversial, and educators hold a wide range of views about its direction, content and implications. Whatever our personal response, schools now need to determine what implementation will look like in practice.
The good news is that curriculum change does not require teachers to abandon everything they know about children, learning and good teaching.
Science and Social Sciences offer rich opportunities for young learners to wonder, investigate, question, observe, talk, create and make sense of the world around them. With thoughtful interpretation and planning, these learning areas can strengthen the wider curriculum rather than becoming two more subjects competing for space in an already overloaded timetable.
This practical, in-person workshop is designed to help Years 1–3 teachers and school leaders unpack the new curriculum and find a manageable, meaningful and hopeful way forward.
Rather than treating the curriculum as a checklist of content to work through, we will explore how its expectations can be brought to life through rich contexts, purposeful experiences and thoughtful connections across the school day.
Together, we will consider how Science and Social Sciences can support children to build knowledge while also strengthening oral language, reading, writing, mathematics, critical thinking, curiosity and their connection to people, place and community.
Advertisement
Event venue
Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery, 5 Mollett Street,Christchurch, New Zealand
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.