Instructional Series
Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.
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Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
The focus in this issue of Connected is on the Nature of Science strand of the curriculum and the science capability: Critique evidence.
At times, Connected themes require the introduction of concepts that students at this curriculum level may not be able to fully understand. What matters at this stage is that students begin to develop understandings that they can grow over time.Look inside this issue
Reconnecting the Brain
by Bronwen Wall
Dr Melanie Cheung is a neurobiologist. She studies the roro (brain), collecting and analysing data about how it works and what can go wrong. She also studies the use of tikanga (Māori customary practices) in the modern science world.
Series: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Learning area: English, Science
Curriculum level: 4
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Publication date: January 2015
Lighting the Way with Solar Energy
by Andrew & Anna Dickson
When Tokelau decided to switch to renewable energy, they thought critically about all the options. They decided that solar energy was a cost-effective option suited to the sunny Tokelaun climate. Over four thousand solar panels were installed on Tokelau, making them the first country in the world to use 100 percent renewable energy. Now they hope to inspire others to make the switch.
Series: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Learning area: English, Science, Technology
Curriculum level: 4
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science, Physical world, Nature of technology
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Publication date: January 2015
A Sinking Feeling
by Ken Benn
illustrated by Fraser Williamson
Mr Tuala’s class have lost the Boat Float competition and they want to figure out why. By learning more about density (and how it relates to floating a boat), they critique their original boat designs and use what they have learned to design and build new, more successful boats.
Series: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Learning area: English, Science, Technology
Curriculum level: 4
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Publication date: January 2015
Don’t Sit If You Want to Keep Fit
by Neale Pitches
illustrated by Renee Chin
Scientific evidence suggests that sitting for long periods of time can cause health problems and that standing and moving around is better for us. But as with any scientific evidence, we need to ask questions about the evidence to determine if it can be trusted.
Series: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Learning area: English, Science
Curriculum level: 4
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 4 - Is That So?
Publication date: January 2015
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Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
The focus in this issue of Connected is on the Nature of Science strand of the curriculum and the science capability: Critique evidence.
At times, Connected themes require the introduction of concepts that students at this curriculum level may not be able to fully understand. What matters at this stage is that students begin to develop understandings that they can grow over time.Look inside this issue
Pseudoscience
by Sophie Fern
illustrated by Claire Tobin
Pseudoscience is something that sounds scientific but isn’t actually based on solid evidence. Advertisments often use pseudoscience, which can be misleading. To be able to tell the difference between real science and pseudoscience, we need to think like scientists. We can use our knowledge of what makes an investigation scientific to ask whether the information is trustworthy.
Series: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Learning area: English, Mathematics and Statistics, Science
Curriculum level: 3
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Publication date: January 2015
Sleep Sleuths
by Kate Potter
illustrated by Toby Morris
How much sleep should we be getting? How many people get enough sleep every night? Jeremy and Marama carry out an investigation to find out how much sleep their classmates are getting. They discover that sometimes, a good investigation can raise more questions than it answers!
Series: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Learning area: English, Mathematics and Statistics, Science
Curriculum level: 3
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Publication date: January 2015
Catching a Space Duck
by Renata Hopkins
In 2004, the European Space Agency sent a spacecraft (called Rosetta) to chase a rubber-ducky-shaped comet called Comet Churyumov-Gerasamenko/67P. In 2014, Rosetta caught up with Comet 67P and sent a lander (called Philae) down to the surface of the comet. Scientists are using the information Rosetta and Philae are sending back to figure out more about comets and other secrets of our solar system.
Series: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Learning area: English, Science
Curriculum level: 3
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Publication date: January 2015
The Science of Rongoā
by Phillip Simpson
Māori use kawakawa as rongoā (traditional medicine). But when scientists tested the kawakawa leaves they said there was no scientific evidence to support the plant’s medicinal properties. Chris Ryan took a closer look at the scientists’ investigations and noticed that they had not used traditional methods to prepare the kawakawa. He wondered if this might have affected their results. So Chris decided to carry out his own investigation.
Series: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Learning area: English, Science
Curriculum level: 3
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 level 3 - Fact or Fiction?
Publication date: January 2015
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Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
The focus in this issue of Connected is on the Nature of Science strand of the curriculum and the science capability: Critique evidence.
At times, Connected themes require the introduction of concepts that students at this curriculum level may not be able to fully understand. What matters at this stage is that students begin to develop understandings that they can grow over time.
Look inside this issue
Why Do Our Muscles Get Tired?
by Zoe Armstrong & Dave Armstrong
Have you noticed that exercising a lot can make you feel tired or sore? Sometimes when we exercise very hard, our muscles use oxygen faster than our body can supply it. This is called muscle fatigue. Moana and Oscar carry out a simple investigation to discover more about muscle fatigue.
Series: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Learning area: English, Mathematics and Statistics, Science
Curriculum level: 2
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Publication date: January 2015
Operation Duck Pond
by Andrew Gunn
Nathan Burkepile is a scientist who wants to know what kind of pond ducks like best. Volunteers (citizen scientists) from around the country collect data for Nathan to analyse. Nathan works with the citizen scientists to make sure that the data they collect is reliable.
Series: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Category: Fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Publication date: January 2015
Learning from the Tangata Whenua
by Susan Paris
James Ataria works a bit differently from most other scientists. As a scientist, he thinks carefully about how evidence should be collected and critiqued. But, unlike many other scientists, he also uses Māori cultural knowledge to help his work.
Series: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Learning area: English, Science
Curriculum level: 2
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Publication date: January 2015
Heat It Up
by Kate Potter
illustrated by Katie O'Neill
Students Paige and Sabitra design an experiment to test whether their solar oven would work better if they paint it black on the inside. But they notice some problems with the data they collect. By changing their experiment, they are able to improve the quality and reliability of their data.
Series: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Learning area: English, Mathematics and Statistics, Science, Technology
Curriculum level: 2
Category: Non-fiction
Strand: Nature of science
Capability: Critique evidence
In: Connected 2015 Level 2 – Have You Checked?
Publication date: January 2015