.png)
Everyday Science NZ is an online science education platform for primary school teachers in Aotearoa to easily find relevant and engaging resources for learning in science. Through our website, kaiako can break down the New Zealand curriculum into easy to understand areas, browse our topics database to spark ideas for their next science lesson, and then locate a variety of resources that align to the needs and interests of their tamariki.
Everyday Science NZ
Mission
To provide an online science education learning tool for primary schools in Aotearoa that supports teacher confidence, student achievement, and ecological citizenship.
Why?
After completing several placements across Ōtautahi Christchurch, we realised the struggle and wasted hours kaiako spend searching hundreds of websites for any resources they could use to teach science to their class. A teacher’s time is valuable, and with a heavy emphasis on English and mathematics, STEM subjects like science with a lack of support often get lost in a crowded curriculum. This has also shown to have the following impacts...
4 in 5 students leaving Year 8 (end of primary school) are underachieving the expected science curriculum
4 in 5 students leaving Year 8 are underachieving the expected science curriculum. This has been a steady decline for the last few decades, having significant impacts on students’ future participation with science in highschool. Māori and Pasifika tamariki achievement is disproportionately affected largely due to a lack of a sense of belonging.
AChievement
Less than 5% of curriculum time throughout the year is spent on teaching science in schools
Opportunities
Less than 5% of curriculum time is spent on teaching science in New Zealand schools. This equates to approximately 1 hour per week which is half the international average. Studies also report that science is not a priority for many schools within such a crowded curriculum that emphasises English and mathematics.
There is a lack of quality science education resources needed to guide planning and teaching in New Zealand primary school classrooms that are age-appropriate, engaging, curriculum-aligned, integrative and place-based. Therefore, teachers are unsure of what they could teach within science and waste precious hours searching online for anything from an activity idea to a fully-fledged lesson plan.
Resources
There is a lack of quality science education resources needed to guide planning and teaching in New Zealand primary school classrooms.
Over half of New Zealand kaiako report that they are not 'very confident' to teach any of the science curriculum areas. Poor support frameworks and professional development is decreasing teachers' confidence and preparedness in science, especially those without a previous science academic background. This starts right from their pre-service training and as a result, science is less likely to be taught regularly in their classrooms.
Over half of New Zealand kaiako report that they are not 'very confident' to teach any of the science curriculum areas.
Confidence
Meet the Team
Jack Fraser
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (2021)
Jack has been committed to developing a quality resource for the teaching profession and provided a leading role for Everyday Science NZ.
Interests: science, te reo Māori, sport, surfing, business and innovation, and strawberry jam!
Special Skills: Binging 9 seasons of How I Met Your Mother this summer.
_Moment.jpg)
Matthew Clark
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (2021)
Matthew is an extremely passionate student-teacher who loves making a difference to the lives of ākonga and features in our new 'animals' videos!
Interests: health and wellbeing, social justice, entrepreneurship, and Sharesies.
Special Skills: Hit three lay ups in a row and doesn't bang on about to this day.
Sean Kiely
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (2021)
Sean has a big heart for teaching and inspiring young tamariki to their fullest potential.
Interests: special education, language and culture, sport, biking, outdoorsy stuff, and Will Jordan
Special Skills: Using technology without steam coming out of his ears.
Special thanks to Daniel, Hunter, Kiara, Strathern, Oscar, Caleb, Sara, Des, Chris, and the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship!