Discovering Science
Overview
This unit prepares pre-service teachers to some of the main principles of science and scientific knowledge and why it is important in the modern world. School students will explore and become familiar with the scientific content and concepts within the relevant National and/or State and Territory Curriculum. They will discover how children’s scientific knowledge and understandings develop from early to later primary school. A key focus of the unit is for students to learn how science learning and teaching can be fun, engaging and relevant for school students from Foundation to Grade 6
Requisites
Rule
150 credit points
AND
EDU10004 Theories of Teaching and Learning
09-February-2025
01-June-2025
05-October-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Advocate Science as being an important discipline in today’s world
- Explain how children’s knowledge and understanding of key science principles are supported by the aims and rationale of the relevant National and/or State and Territory Curriculum
- Use relevant National and/or State and Territory Curriculum to teach scientific concepts
- Create engaging science activities that would appeal to children
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture |
1.00 | 12weeks | 16 |
| On-campus Class |
3.00 | 8 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various |
4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning |
12.5 | 12 | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Individual | 40% | 1,2 |
| Portfolio | Individual | 60% | 2,3,4 |
Content
- What is Science?
- Why is Science important in today’s world?
- Relevant, National and / or State or Territory Curriculum content, concepts and organisation
- Children’s development of scientific concepts, principles and knowledge (Foundation to Grade 6)
- Contemporary science pedagogy
- Making Science fun and engaging
- 5E inquiry planning
- Making Science fun and engaging
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.