Welcome to the New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators

The NZAPSE is a branch of the New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE). Our role is to celebrate science in Primary Schools and to enhance the teaching and learning of science at primary level. The NZAPSE runs an annual Primary Science Week in Term 2 proving an opportunity for all New Zealand schools to engage in science learning.

 Join NZAPSE by filling our this form. By joining you will go on our list to be sent our newsletters and any other important information.

Are you new to teaching Science?
Have you taken over as Science Leader in your school?

We Can Help

If you are looking for help or advice, we can help.
If we can’t help you we will find someone who can.
Contact us at: [email protected]

Primary Science Week 2023

Our resources are suitable for any time of year!

 

Citizen Science
Exploring our World


Information can be found here.
You can find out examples of Citizen Science that you can do with your classes as well as how to run your own ‘Bio Blitz’ at your school.

Safety and Science in the Primary Classroom

The Safety and Science/Pūtaiao: Guidance for Aotearoa New Zealand Schools and Kura, from the Ministry of Education, came out recently and contains all the information needed to ensure all teachers and their students are safe in a Science classroom. This document is very detailed and contains much more that a primary teacher needs so we have produced documents to make it easier for you. You can view them here and here. You will also find a link on the second document, to carry out a risk assessment for any activity that requires it.

Primary Science Day 2022

Did you attend this Primary Science day in July 2022 or maybe you wanted to attend and could not make it. Either way at this link you will find resources provided by some of the presenters. It is worth a look.

NZAPSE Newsletters

Each newsletter will contain useful resources and teaching activities.
Term 1 2023 newsletter now available with information on how to carry out a Citizen Science project with your class.
Topics and links to newsletters can be found here.

Professional Development for Primary Teachers 2023 

Network of Expertise PLD from NZASE

NZASE is again running workshops for primary and secondary teachers. All information will be found on the NZASE Website as soon as it is available. If you would like more information you can contact Mike Stone at [email protected]

Regionally-allocated PLD

Keep an eye out on https://pld.education.govt.nz/  to find the details about this type of PLD for 2023. For help with this process we have some helpful information on this page of the website.

Improving Science Teaching: Ideas from the Education Review Office

Have a look at these three reports from information collected from schools around New Zealand. See what schools have done to improve their teaching.

These reports can be found here

  • Science in the Early Years: Early Childhood and Years 1-4
  • Shining a Light on Science: Good Practice in Early Childhood Services
  • Growing Curiosity: Teaching Strategies to Engage Years 5-11 Students in Science

Helpful Resources Collected during Online Teaching

While it is fairly unlikely that there will be lockdowns again the following resources may be of use to you. If you click this link you will find a range of experiments, activities, resources and helpful hints that were useful when teaching online. They are still useful  now you are back in the class room. Resources will continue to be added, so come back soon to see what is new.

Don’t Forget

Questions and Answers

Here is a chance for you to ask those questions about Primary Science that you can’t find the answers to yourself. Click on this page for all details as well as questions asked by others.