Investigating through observation and play

Our November pānui is full of ideas to get students outside for meaningful, hands-on and active learning through observation. Suitable for ECE to middle school.

Learning through observation, exploration and play

Observation is an essential part of science and mātauranga Māori. Through observation we collect data, which enables us to make sense of the natural world. Observational skills are central to Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Curriculum. Learners are encouraged to investigate through exploration and play.

Water’s thin elastic layer

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Surface tension is when the surface of a liquid acts like a thin elastic layer. Surface tension causes water to form drops and spheres.

Rights: Angela Schipper

Active, authentic science

Take advantage of the warm weather to get outside for meaningful, hands-on and active learning through observation. The following activities are simple enough for very young learners and can be scaled up to extend content vocabulary and science concepts for older learners. Use the related content on each page to learn more about the science concepts that underpin the activities.

Material World – surface tension

• Observing water’s thin 'skin’

• Investigating bubbles

Physical World – light and shadows

• Investigating shadows

• Investigating shadows and the position of the Sun

• Investigating shadows using transparent, translucent and opaque materials

Building on natural curiosity

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Young people are naturally curious – use this to encourage scientific discovery and observation.

Rights: Private collection

Planet Earth and Beyond – underground

• Calderas in the sandpit

• Dig a hole

Living World – above ground

• Pollinator counts – insects and flowers

• Birds in my backyard

• Native plant leaves – DIY classification system

For other resources that encourage hands-on, active and outdoor learning, check out our learning from home articles for early childhood, lower primary, middle primary and upper primary. The ideas are great for at-home and at-school learning.

Observation through citizen science

Observation of the natural world is often a key aspect of both citizen science and online citizen science projects. We have two new case studies:

• The Plastic Tide along with Dianne’s sustainability focused unit plan for middle primary.

• Pest Free Tawa along with Carol’s habitat and environmental change focused unit plan for upper primary.

Don’t forget that all of our citizen science projects and case studies include wrap-around resources to make planning, teaching and learning easier!

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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

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• Pinterest: nz.pinterest.com/nzsciencelearn

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sciencelearninghubnz

Your feedback

We hope you enjoy using the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao in your teaching and would love to hear from you. Your comments, ideas and feedback can be emailed to enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.

Regards

Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao