About the Series
The Building Science Concepts series of books is designed for use by
teachers to build students' science understandings, as appropriate to the learning
needs and contexts of those students.
The series supports teachers of New Zealand students at curriculum levels 1
to 4. The books provide a structured approach for the teaching of science concepts,
helping teachers to build students' understandings from simple to more complex
scientific ideas and to relate these ideas to students' existing understandings
of the world around them. Each book is based around a theme and includes science
information for teachers, supported by a sequenced series of classroom activities.
The books are closely linked with the strands and Achievement aims of Science
in the New Zealand Curriculum. These strands and Achievement aims are identified
for each book, but the achievement objectives at the different levels are not.
What's the "big idea"?
The Building Science Concepts series aims to help teachers in primary schools
build students' understanding of science concepts in steps envisaged as learning
"foothills". Each book in the series focuses on a topic, and presents a set
of concepts about the topic. These link to each other and build foothill by
foothill towards a major concept - a "big idea"
Key features of the approach are:
- Relevance – concepts are introduced and developed in contexts familiar
to the learner.
- common misconceptions are acknowledged and addressed – background notes
and activities have been designed to take account of ways in which students'
understandings of concepts may differ from science understandings.
If you're unsure of the meaning of certain words or terms try the glossary
of terms
Acknowledgments
Series development and publication – Learning Media (www.learningmedia.co.nz)
Concept development team – Chris Arcus, Ally Bull, Carolyn English, Rosemary
Hipkins, Christine Joyce, Debbie Middleton (Wellington College of Education)
Writer (main) – Pat Quinn
Advisory group – Raelene Bennett, Barbara Benson, Pene Jackson, Brian Lewthwaite,
Peter Spratt, Ken Williams
Specialist advisers include – Dr Bob Brockie, Denis Burchill (Auckland
College of Education), Dr Hamish Campbell (Institute of Geological and Nuclear
Sciences), John Dunlop (Auckland Observatory)
Editor – Michael Keith
Series editor – Jennifer O'Brien
Design – Base 2
Web design – CWA New Media (www.cwa.co.nz)
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