The Importance of Science Education

Welcome to Science in 5spMiss Sarah Peters

W0101628

What is Science?

• Science provides an important contribution to a child’s:

• Intellectual Development • Decision Making • Critical Thinking • Ability to work in groups

The Impact of Science

• Without science :

• The world we live in will struggle to advance. • Technology could not improve.

• Humans rely on science on a daily basis.

The Impact on Students

• Science gives students:• A basic understanding of how things work

• Ability to critically think and problem solve

• Ability to make decisions based on critical thinking

• Ability to work in groups

• Helps to construct important skills away from the classroom

QSA and Science

• QSA is the Queensland Studies Authority• Determines the content that is taught through

the Essential Learnings i.e. • Life and living • Earth and Beyond • Energy and Change • Natural and Processed Materials • Science as a Human Endeavors

The Five Strands of Science

Life and living Earth and Beyond

Energy and Change Natural and Processed Materials Science as a Human Endeavors

Unit Plan

• Whole term outlook on what students will be learning

• Learning focus extracted from the Essential Learnings Year 5

• Main Activities have been researched and developed specifically

• Assessment will take form of a research PowerPoint

Global Warming and Pollution

Is the topic of the unit plan

Relevant topic to children

A lot of awareness in the media

Essential Learnings

• Out of the Five Strands the Unit Plan will focus on:

• Earth and Beyond • Science as a Human Endeavour

Some Activities

Classroom Earth Hour Carbon Footprint

Clean Up Australia day

Classroom Earth Hour

• Complete an ‘Earth Hour’ in the classroom • All electric things will be turned off

• Activities such as:– Reading books– Reading newspapers – Completing a word find

• Will be done on a rotational basis

Carbon Footprint

• Students will research their own Carbon Footprint

• Ways to decrease footprint • Why it is important • How the footprint is calculated (

http://wwf.org.au/footprint/?gclid=CJ60iZac4qACFQQupAodnFZrDA)

Clean Up Australia Day

• Students will be asked to create their own ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ advertisement

• They will use posters • These posters when completed will be placed on walls

around the school

• Students will research pollution and the effects that it has on the environment

Assessment

• After completing community awareness activities

• Students will research one activity at length • Present their findings in an oral and

PowerPoint

Nature of Teaching Science

• All science should be Student related – Includes:• Hands on Activities • Conceptual understanding • Engage all Students • Develop Meaning for students

Diversity

• All Classes promote diversity in classroom • Diversity in a science classroom can help:

• Social interaction• Scientific progress • Students scientific knowledge

Importance of Science

• Science enables students: – To become life-long learners • To develop questioning abilities • To question what is around them • The ability to look at the world in more ways than one• To identify importance of change on the environment • To develop researching and concluding skills • To accept diversity and promote equality

References 1. (2010). "Footprint Calculator ". Retrieved 31st March 2010, from

http://wwf.org.au/footprint/?gclid=CJ60iZac4qACFQQupAodnFZrDA.2. (2010). "60 Earth Hour ". Retrieved 31st March 2010, from

http://www.earthhour.org.au/.3. (2010). "Clean Up." Retrieved 31st March 2010 from http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/.4. Eady, S. (2008). "What is the Purpose of Learning Science? An Analysis in the Primary

School " British Journal of Educational Studies 56(1).5. Intemann, K. (2009 ). "Why Dicersity Matters: Understanding and Applying the

Diversity Component of the National Science Foundation's Broader Impacts Criterion " Social Epistimology 23(3 & 4): 249-266

6. Queensland Studies Authority. (2007). Science Essential Learnings. Retrieved March 5, 2010, fromhttp://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/p-9/7297.html

7. Skamp, K., Ed. (2006 ). Teaching Primary Science Constructively Teaching Primary Science Constructively Cengage Learning

8. VERSPAGEN, O. N. B. (2008). "Knowledge Flows, Patent Citations and the Impact of Science on Technology." Economic Systems Research

9. Vilches, D. G.-P. A. (2005). "The Contribution of science and technology education to citizen's culture " Cnadaian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Teachnology Education 5(2).