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The New Zealand Curriculum suggests that all students should become responsible, thoughtful citizens in society. The science capabilities help students practice the types of thinking, questioning, and actions needed to become informed citizens. This helps build their knowledge and confidence to use their growing capabilities.
Introducing the five science capabilities
Introducing the five science capabilities
The five basic capabilities in the science learning area have been identified through research into the Nature of Science area. The research asked what capabilities could contribute to a functional knowledge of science.
Gather & Interpret data
Gather & Interpret data
Akonga make careful observations and differentiate between observation and inference.
Akonga make careful observations and differentiate between observation and inference.
Science knowledge is based on data derived from direct, or indirect, observations of the natural physical world and often includes measuring something. An inference is a conclusion you draw from observations – the meaning you make from observations. Understanding the difference is an important step towards being scientifically literate.
Use Evidence
Use Evidence
Akonga support their ideas with evidence and look for evidence supporting others' explanations.
Akonga support their ideas with evidence and look for evidence supporting others' explanations.
Science is a way of explaining the world. Science is empirical and measurable. This means that in science, explanations need to be supported by evidence that is based on, or derived from, observations of the natural world.
Critique evidence
Critique evidence
Not all questions can be answered by science.
Not all questions can be answered by science.
In order to evaluate the trustworthiness of data, students need to know quite a lot about the qualities of scientific tests.
Interpret Representation
Interpret Representation
Scientists represent their ideas in a variety of ways, including models, graphs, charts, diagrams and written texts.
Scientists represent their ideas in a variety of ways, including models, graphs, charts, diagrams and written texts.
Learners think about how data is presented and ask questions such as:
- What does this representation tell us?
- What is left out?
- How does this representation get the message across?
- Why is it presented in this particular way?
engage with science
engage with science
This capability requires students to use the other capabilities to engage with science in “real life” contexts.
This capability requires students to use the other capabilities to engage with science in “real life” contexts.
It involves students taking an interest in science issues, participating in discussions about science and at times taking action.
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