Science

At Newborough Primary School we recognise science as crucial for our students to develop the understanding and skills necessary to navigate an increasingly technical world.  At NPS, students begin to explore science in kindergarten, through the Early Years Learning Framework.  From Pre-Primary to Year 6, students attend weekly Science Specialist classes in our well-equipped and resourced Science lab.

Curiosity, problem-solving, and critical and creative thinking processes are fostered through highly engaging content, and hands-on investigation. As one of our school values, teamwork is highly prized. In the lab, all investigations are team-based, with explicit roles designed to develop the skills of managing, speaking, and directing. Students are encouraged to share their scientific ideas and be open-minded enough to change these when presented with compelling new evidence.

At Newborough, our foundation Science program is based on ‘Primary Connections’, developed by the Australian Academy of Science. Primary Connections is based on the heavily researched 5-E’s Model - Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate] designed to challenge students’ alternative conceptions through questioning, guided experiences, and explicit teaching of abstract concepts.

The Four Science strands consist of: Chemical Sciences; Physical Sciences; Biological Sciences and Earth and Space Sciences. The four Sciences are taught one per term, with two being assessed for reporting biennially [every two years].

All Science strands are taught concurrently through the Science Inquiry Skills strand. From Pre-Primary onwards, students are explicitly taught to develop investigative questions, predict, fair test, and record and evaluate the results of their investigations. Over six years, students acquire a deep understanding of the sciences, investigating and use of verbal and written scientific language.

National Science Week occurs throughout Australia in August each year. At Newborough, we celebrate Science Week biennially with open lab sessions, inviting parents and family members to join their children in fun, engaging and hands-on activities during their child’s regular Science lesson time. We also hold a whole school Science dress-up-day. Our science teacher, with our school Science Leaders, judge and award the ‘best-dressed’ students in each classroom. On the years in-between, the Science Leaders plan for and facilitate fun, optional lunch time Science Week activities.