NZ International Science Festival: Curriculum

Values

Students will be encouraged to value:

excellence, by aiming high and by persevering in the face of difficulties
innovation, inquiry, and curiosity, by thinking critically, creatively, and reflectively
diversity, as found in our different cultures, languages, and heritages
equity, through fairness and social justice
community and participation for the common good
ecological sustainability, which includes care for the environment
integrity, which involves being honest, responsible, and accountable and acting ethically
respect themselves, others, and human rights.

Key competencies

thinking
using language, symbols, and texts
managing self
relating to others
participating and contributing

In science, students explore how both the natural physical world and science itself work so that they can participate as critical, informed, and responsible citizens in a society in which science plays a significant role.

The Living World strand is about living things and how they interact with each other and the environment. Students develop an understanding of the diversity of life and life processes, of where and how life has evolved, of evolution as the link between life processes and ecology, and of the impact of humans on all forms of life. As a result, they are able to make more informed decisions about significant biological issues. The emphasis is on the biology of New Zealand, including the sustainability of New Zealand’s unique fauna and flora and distinctive ecosystems.

Curriculum Area	Level	Achievement Objective
Science	3-4	Living World Life Processes - Recognises that there are life processes common to all living things and that these occur in different ways.
	3-4	Ecology Explain how living things are suited to their particular habitat, how they respond to environmental changes both natural and human-induced
	3-4	Evolution Begin to group plants, animals, and other living things into science-based classifications Explore how livings have changed over lime and appreciate the uniqueness of some living NZ things
Maths and statistics	3-4	Statistical investigation: Conduct investigations using the statistical enquiry cycle by: - posing and answering questions - gathering, sorting and counting, and displaying category data - discussing the results - communicating findings based on the data
Technology	4	Technological Knowledge, Technological modelling Nature of Technology, Characteristics of technology.
Social Science	3	Understand how people view and use places differently. Understand how people make decisions about access to and use of resources.
Environmental Education (from Guidelines)		Aims Students should develop: awareness and sensitivity to the environment and related issues knowledge and understanding of the environment and the impact of people on it attitudes and values that reflect feelings of concern for the environment skills involved in identifying, investigating, and problem solving associated with environmental issues a sense of responsibility through participation and action as individuals, or members of groups, wh?nau, or iwi, in addressing environmental issues.
Values	Excellence; Innovation, inquiry and curiosity; Diversity; Equity; Community and participation; Ecological sustainability; Integrity; Respect.
Key Competencies	Thinking ; Using language, symbols and texts; Managing self; Relating to others; Participating and contributing
Principles	High expectations; Treaty of Waitangi; Cultural diversity; Inclusion; Learning to learn; Community engagement; Coherence; Future focus

Curriculum

Values

Key competencies

Curriculum Area

Science

Maths and

statistics

Technology

Social Science

Environmental Education (from Guidelines)

Values

Key Competencies

Principles