ECE220 - Science 1: Science and Environmental Awareness for Young Children

Unit details

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Year:2019 unit information
Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Trimester 1 Unit Chair:

George Aranda

Prerequisite:

Must have passed 5 credit points at level 1

Corequisite:

Must be enrolled in E330

Incompatible with:

Nil

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

Burwood: 1 x 1 hour class per week, 1 x 2 hour seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud (online):

Students are required to attend 2 cloud conferences per trimester. 1 x 2 hour online workshops per week

Content

The content is organised around key science concepts cognitively appropriate for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. A range of issues are addressed:

  • Science understandings relevant to the early childhood settings;
  • The nature of science and its relationship to society and the environment;
  • The nature of learning in science and the environment; teaching approaches and strategies for linking science with the other curriculum areas;
  • Assessing children's understandings;
  • Contemporary issues in curriculum provision and the teaching of science and the environment through play.

Aspects of science that are relevant to early childhood and primary educators are presented - for example, investigation of living things, materials, properties of water, air, electricity and magnetism, light, sound. Environmental concepts are integrated throughout the program. This unit will identify teaching approaches and strategies for supporting learning in early childhood settings. It will demonstrate, through practical activities applied through play, how young children develop their scientific and environmental understandings.

Assessment

Assessment 1 - Portfolio activities (equivalent 800 words) - 20%

Assessment 2 - Probing children's understandings (1200 words) - 30%

Assessment 3 - Research activity and report (2000 words) - 50%

Unit Fee Information

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