You are here:
Click on learn more to access explanation, examples and questions for teacher reflection related to each theme. For teaching activities related to Investigating in Science go to
Nature of Science Teaching Activities
and order activities by Nature of Science Achievement Aims.
The nature of student investigations
- Students typically investigate existing science knowledge,
learn more
- Students’ investigations are a limited modelling of the processes of scientific investigation,
learn more
Attitudes that support investigation
- Collaboration enables students to build a richer understanding,
learn more
- Students’ relationships with other people affect their investigations,
learn more
- Students bring their personal values to any science investigation,
learn more
- Science learning can be improved by encouraging appropriate attitudes,
learn more
Carrying out an investigation
- Any student investigation may involve a variety of skills,
learn more
- Carrying out an investigation includes choosing an appropriate approach,
learn more
- Students need to be taught relevant procedural concepts to undertake an investigation,
learn more
- Framing an investigation helps to focus students’ observations and interpretations,
learn more
Interpreting observations
- Students’ investigations may have unexpected results,
learn more
- Students’ investigations may only generate partial explanations,
learn more
- Students’ investigations have the potential to be reconsidered, debated and developed further,
learn more
Return to top
