Context based learning (CBL) is a powerful tool that utilises areas of student interest framed in meaningful contexts to foster development of new skills and understanding. For middle school students, engineering activities that relate to real-world problems provide suitable CBL contexts for acquiring conceptual scientific and mathematical…

A practical exercise for developing a simple cost-effective solar ultraviolet radiation dosimeter is presented for use by middle school science students. Specifically, this exercise investigates a series of experiments utilising the historical blue print reaction, combining ammonium iron citrate and potassium hexacyanoferrate to develop an…

Australia's Early Years Learning Framework and leading international researchers argue for more intentional and purposeful teaching of science in the early years. This case study of exemplary practice illustrates intentional teaching of science materials which opened-up learning opportunities in literacy and number. Student-led hands-on…

Lists some materials from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and the United States appropriate for elementary-aged students and provides comments on the usefulness of these materials. (GS)

Equipment needed for teaching the New South Wales (Australia) Natural Science course in grades 3-6 is listed. A general list needed for all grades is supplemented by lists of materials needed specifically for each grade. Whenever possible materials available from students' homes are listed, and many examples of improvised equipment are given.…

Describes the vegetation and animals to be found in the Sturt Gorge area of South Australia. (JR)

Presented is the draft form of a handbook for science teachers in the secondary technical schools of Victoria, Australia. This handbook is designed to provide teachers with information concerning the administration and operation of the Technical Schools Division, with information concerning safety hazards, liabilities, and procedures in science…

Described is Western Australia's elementary and secondary science education programs relative to science content, emphasis on science, instructional goals, and science curriculum materials utilized. School enrollments and the demand for highly trained technical personnel in Western Australia are also discussed. (DS)

The "Web of Life," adapted from the green version of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), has gained a virtual monopoly in Australian upper secondary school biology classrooms since its introduction in 1967. A recent increase in the diversity of student interests, academic abilities, attitudes, and vocational aspirations has…

A cooperative venture between the University of New South Wales Faculty of Biological Science and the Department of Education is described, which has resulted in the setting up of a special unit within the university to supply teaching materials to New South Wales government high schools. (Author/JN)