Science and Mathematics in EC (EDUC90391)

The focus of this subject is how to develop children’s awareness of science and mathematics concepts in the world around them. Topics are centred on children’s everyday lives and the natural world, and draw on research on children’s learning. This subject refines and extends, as appropriate, teacher candidates’ content knowledge and understanding in science and mathematics, and introduces pedagogical knowledge for these two domains. This subject also explores the place of Science and Mathematics in an integrated curriculum and the use of ICT to support learning in science and mathematics. Science and Mathematics will be looked at in the context of the needs, interests and abilities of children from infants to eight years old, including an overview of the science standards in the Australian Curriculum (AusVELS) Foundation to Level Two.

Topics in the science domain include living things and their diversity and properties of water, air, magnetism, light and sound. There will be a strong focus on sustainability and the environment and this strand will be integrated throughout the program. Toys and objects familiar to young children will be used to introduce appropriate aspects of technology. Topics for the mathematics domain will focus on the mathematics encountered by young children prior to school. In particular, they will focus on: the development of number concepts including counting; the early ideas of measurement attributes, space and location; and the development of mathematical language appropriate for young children.

Teacher candidates will design, implement, review and refine sequences of experiences for mathematics and science.