A hopeful and practical approach to Science and Social Sciences in Years 1–3

The release of the new Science and Social Sciences curriculum brings another significant change for New Zealand schools.

For many teachers and leaders, it also brings a familiar set of questions.

How will we fit this into a school day already crowded by literacy and numeracy expectations? How do we make sense of detailed curriculum content without overwhelming teachers or young learners? How do we meet new expectations while continuing to teach in ways that are responsive, relational and grounded in what we know about children’s development?

These are reasonable concerns.

The development of the new curriculum has been controversial, and educators hold a wide range of views about its direction, content and implications. Whatever our personal response, schools now need to determine what implementation will look like in practice.

The good news is that curriculum change does not require teachers to abandon everything they know about children, learning and good teaching.

Science and Social Sciences offer rich opportunities for young learners to wonder, investigate, question, observe, talk, create and make sense of the world around them. With thoughtful interpretation and planning, these learning areas can strengthen the wider curriculum rather than becoming two more subjects competing for space in an already overloaded timetable.

This practical, in-person workshop is designed to help Years 1–3 teachers and school leaders unpack the new curriculum and find a manageable, meaningful and hopeful way forward.

Rather than treating the curriculum as a checklist of content to work through, we will explore how its expectations can be brought to life through rich contexts, purposeful experiences and thoughtful connections across the school day.

Together, we will consider how Science and Social Sciences can support children to build knowledge while also strengthening oral language, reading, writing, mathematics, critical thinking, curiosity and their connection to people, place and community.

During the workshop, we will explore how to:

understand the structure and key expectations of the new Science and Social Sciences curriculum
identify what matters most for teachers and learners in Years 1–3
translate curriculum content into meaningful and age-appropriate learning
connect new knowledge with children’s questions, experiences and existing understandings
integrate Science and Social Sciences with literacy and numeracy without losing the integrity of any learning area
create greater coherence across the school day through rich learning contexts
design learning that includes dialogue, investigation, movement, creativity and hands-on experience
respond to the developmental, cultural, relational and neurodiverse needs of young learners
retain professional judgement within a more prescribed curriculum
develop realistic approaches to implementation that teachers can sustain.

We will be honest about the pressures schools are facing, including curriculum crowding, workload and uncertainty about how to begin.

At the same time, this workshop will focus firmly on possibility.

There are ways to work with the curriculum that remain thoughtful, respectful and responsive to the children in front of us. There are opportunities to connect learning rather than fragment it. There are practical approaches that can help teachers feel more confident and less overwhelmed.

This will not be another passive curriculum webinar filled with dense slides and abstract explanations.

Participants will have time to think, discuss, explore practical examples and begin shaping an approach that makes sense for their own learners, teams and school communities.

What previous participants have said:

“It will help break down the curriculum to allow you to identify what you naturally implement and how you can integrate it into what you are already doing.”
“You will leave inspired to make meaningful change.”
“Food for thought and wider discussion of what we want our vision to be, not what we are told it must be.”
“Great opportunity to explore the new curriculum with like-minded people.”

You will leave with:

a clearer understanding of the new curriculum
practical ideas for teaching Science and Social Sciences in Years 1–3
strategies for making meaningful connections across the curriculum
approaches for integrating learning within an already busy school day
planning ideas that can be adapted within your own setting
greater confidence about supporting implementation in your school
renewed hope that curriculum change does not have to come at the expense of children or teachers.

We may not have chosen the curriculum we have inherited. We still have considerable influence over how it is interpreted, how it is taught and how it is experienced by children.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is designed for:

teachers working with children in Years 1–3
junior-school team leaders
curriculum and pedagogical leaders
deputy principals and principals supporting curriculum implementation
learning support, RTLB and PLD professionals working alongside primary teachers.

Contact the host of Making the New Curriculum Work for Young Learners Wellington