From 2015 Kindergarten to Year 6 implementation of the NSW Science and Technology K–6 syllabus (2012) became mandatory for all NSW primary schools.

Teachers are reminded about the nature and importance of the aims and objectives of the syllabus to foster a sense of wonder, expand children’s natural curiosity and develop an enthusiasm for Science and Technology. As educators, we strive for all students to think scientifically and to appreciate both the natural and made worlds.

The syllabus content has been organised to support teaching and learning.

Knowledge and Understanding content is divided in to two strands:

• Natural Environment 
• Made Environment

These are further divided into 7 substrands that provide a continuum of learning that links with the strands of the Years 7–10 Science syllabus e.g. Material World K–6 provides a foundation for the Chemical World strand in Years 7–10.

The Skills content is organised in two strand:

• Working Scientifically 
• Working Technologically

The processes of designing, applying and evaluating are central to the active engagement of students in a range of scientific investigations, real world problem solving activities and hands on design projects.

The Working Scientifically strand develops student skills in:

• identifying and asking questions about their world
• planning and conducting a range of first hand investigations
• using scientific inquiry
• evaluating the processes and quality of their findings, evidence and conclusions
• drawing on processes and design ideas.

The Working Technologically strand develops student skills in:

• recognising problems and responding to opportunities
• designing and producing possible solutions to the needs and wants of their world
• exploring and defining design tasks
• generating and developing ideas
• producing solutions and evaluating their processes and solutions
• using the outcomes of investigations to develop and design solutions.

The Science and Technology syllabus together with K-10 syllabuses in English, Mathematics and History are available in an e-syllabus format. Together with the online Program Builder, they help teachers plan and implement the syllabus.

A range of sample units has been provided to assist in getting started. These include detail designed to clarify the learning activities. It is not expected that all teacher programs will be of the same detail. Hard copies of the syllabus can be purchased via the ebos online shop > NSW Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus.

For more information, contact:
Peter Lee
Board Inspector, Primary
peter.lee@bostes.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8191

Kerry Sheehan
Board Inspector, Science
kerry.sheehan@bostes.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8144