Is Science the key to literacy and Numeracy?

by Jasmine Hoansen
(Perth W.Aust.)

the Rocket kit

Is Science the key to Literacy and Numeracy in ECE? I think it is.

Ok, there are a few ideas out there but are they interesting enough to hold a class of 5-6 years olds' attention?

A trip to a leading electronics project kit supplier will help you find some answers. They have a series of project kits for kids - for quite a reasonable price. You may only need one kit and then design your lessons/activities around the ideas in the kit.

The one on Rockets is very good and WOW! unleash your imagination as to how many lessons you can get out of a small $17 box (tax deductible and ask for educational discount too). I will be raiding MacD’s for a few of their fat straws next week (Shsssssssssssssssssssssss!)

Never lose sight of the Literacy (reports, narrative, written, digital, audio visual , oral presentations,) - Maths (graphing, predicting, calculation, measurement etc.)components, as well as S&E, as you move onto the solar system, space exploration and, last but not least, T & E, communications technology, design etc.

And, the prize for the best projects, reports (written, filmed, oral, Power Point, My Face etc.,) and results (graphs, spreadsheets, videos with oral scientific reports overlaid) from the experiments etc, in 5 weeks time will be 'One of the Kits' to take home (again tax deductible; WOW! That's half the term gone!

Regards and love Jasmine Hoansen (Notre Dame University)
jhoansen@nd.edu.au