This matrix should be selected if the teacher's intention for learning is to develop students' abilities to construct their own understanding in scientific discussions with others. The focus is on exploring science as a human activity, understanding the thinking and working processes in communities of scientists, and modelling some of these processes in school science. The progress indicators link to the integrating strand Making Sense of the Nature of Science and Its Relationship to Technology (Science in the New Zealand Curriculum, pages 24–41) and reflect the values and procedures of the scientific community as well as learning strategies known to develop personal understanding. Teachers can apply them to students' own school-based science or use them to help students explore the stories of professional science in the past or present.
Explanations often involve the use of analogies, metaphors, and models.
Levels 1–5 displayed horizontally as in the sets distributed to schools
Levels 1–5 displayed vertically
