EDST660 - Science, Sustainability and Environmental Diversity in the Early Years

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit specifically relates to children's intrinsic curiosity about their local environment within their immediate world, and asking questions that lead to speculation and the testing of ideas. These questions provide educators with a natural learning context for inquiry-based learning in which exploratory and purposeful play is a feature. This unit looks at a science, sustainability, and environmental diversity curriculum that supports all children in developing a rich, interconnected understanding about the world around them through the investigation of topics that explore and test ideas within the context of relationships. In addition, children's successful participation in scientific contexts pivots on the effectiveness of the practitioner's pedagogical practice, understandings of how children learn, and knowledge and understanding of science. The effectiveness of pedagogical practice, understandings of how children learn, and knowledge and understanding of science are critical to children's continued engagement with scientific knowledge, concepts and the skills of investigation.

This unit aims to assist participants to develop an understanding of the pedagogies which inform the teaching, learning and assessment of science, sustainability and environmental issues in a range of early year's educational contexts.