Supporting scientific literacy and student voice
Scientists usually feature in our videos but ākonga are our newest stars! Find out more in our pānui for Ākuhata
Supporting scientific literacy and student voice
Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of science concepts and processes, which help us make informed decisions about issues that affect us and those around us. Our new content has a spotlight on this literacy – delivered persuasively through student voice!
The Science of Medicines – Unlocking Curious Minds
Late winter – and the rounds of viruses it continues to bring – provides the ideal context for introducing The Science of Medicines – Whakatere Waka. The Science of Medicines team shared their expertise, resources and best of all, their ākonga with the Hub. We’ve created videos of the young people sharing their insights about medicines and about designing serious games to promote community awareness.
A wayfaring approach to understanding medicines
The Science of Medicines – Whakatere Waka uses a wayfaring approach to promote scientific literacy about the use of medicines.
Game design is a creative way to build science literacy. It combines aspects of science, technology, digital technology, literacy and the arts. The activity Game design for viruses and vaccines has tips, resources and questions to aid ākonga in creating the game narrative, environment and rules. Games can be digital, tabletop or even 3D dioramas.
The Science of Medicines team created 8 kid-friendly PDFs about viruses, viral transmission and the immune system. Viruses and immunity – interpreting infographics helps to unpack the information – developing literacy skills in parallel with scientific literacy.
Data and how it is used
We’re continuing to develop resources about data – a ubiquitous term – but what does it really mean? There are helpful glossary terms and explanations in the articles Data about data and Data and how we use it. Both are useful when delving into the nature of science and the nature of technology.
On the topic of data, check out citizen science projects supported by Keep New Zealand Beautiful. Participation in Backyard Battle and Mizuiku Upstream Battle adds to data sets, which are used for research, policy decisions and more.
Backyard Battle
Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s Backyard Battle sees students become citizen scientists as they act to prevent litter entering our waterways whilst also collecting valuable data.
Free PLD webinars
Ever looked at resources and thought how do I make them work for my class ? Join us for What does the Hub look like in the primary classroom? This webinar will explore ideas on how to adapt resources to meet the needs of our students.
Date: 14 September, 4:00–4:45 pm
We’re delighted to support Science In a Van’s Hive Mind – Light and colour webinar on 31 August. Emily and Alan always make science enjoyable and easy to understand. Check out this collection, which has lots of wrap-around resources.
Two new recorded webinars, with supporting materials, have just gone live:
He rauemi reo Māori mō ngā rākau – Te reo Māori plant resources – discover our bilingual resources developed alongside students, botanists and te reo Māori experts.
What is a knowledge system? – explore the idea of knowledge systems with examples from science and mātauranga Māori.
Who’s your favourite bird?
Will you be involved in a campaign for Bird of the Year? It’s a great way to encourage conversations about our native birds and conservation. Forest and Bird have decided to include extinct species in the 2023 contest. Why? This Conversation article looks at ecological grief – mourning what we’ve lost – and how it helps us strive to save what remains.
A recreation of the extinct huia
A recreation of the extinct huia ( Heteralocha acutirostris ). The huia were the largest of the five New Zealand wattlebird species. The last confirmed sighting was in 1907, but it is thought that a few huia persisted into the 1920s.
The Science Learning Hub are big bird fans – see our previous campaign videos for the ruru and takahē. Look out for our 2023 campaign – featuring the amazing huia – coming soon.
Follow us
We offer added value through our social media. Contact us about creating collections or boards tailored to your needs. We can help foster connections between the education and science communities.
Facebook : www.facebook.com/nzsciencelearn
Twitter : www.twitter.com/NZScienceLearn
Pinterest : nz.pinterest.com/nzsciencelearn
Instagram : www.instagram.com/sciencelearninghubnz
Your feedback
We hope you enjoy using the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. Your comments, ideas and feedback can be emailed to enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.
Noho ora mai Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao
See all news