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• How the capabilities relate to the NOS strand of NZC

The Nature of Science (NOS) strand in the New Zealand Curriculum explores how science knowledge is created and used in the world. The five science capabilities are linked to the Nature of Science sub-strands thus: 

• The first three capabilities link to Understanding about science  (the focus is on scientists’ investigations)
• The first three capabilities link to Investigating in science  (the focus is on students’ investigations)
• The fourth capability links to  Communicating in science   
• The fifth capability links to Participating and contributing  

What you can do with the capabilities

The resources under each capability show how to design classroom learning experiences that foreground the Nature of Science. These new resources adapt existing resources - for example how the Connected or Applications readers might be adapted to develop NOS ideas. A wide range of existing resources have been used. They illustrate how the capabilities contribute to science learning that is important in the New Zealand Curriculum. 

The Nature of Science strand explores ways science knowledge is created and used in the world. This strand can be used to change teaching and learning to help achieve the citizenship purpose. Based on the NOS strand,  five foundational science capabilities  have been identified. These are:     

• Gather and interpret information
• Use evidence to support ideas
• Critique evidence
• Make meaning of scientific representations
• Engage with science

These are things students need to show they can do; their capabilities will be strengthened with practice.

Here is an  example of one activity  being adapted differently to foreground different capabilities.

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