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Section 5: Attainment Outcomes, Strands and Targets in Environmental Studies

5.9 Science

Science contributes to environmental studies by providing a context for stimulating and encouraging pupils' curiosity to explore and understand the world around them.

Through their experiences of science, pupils are helped to:

  • broaden their understanding of themselves, the society in which they live and the world as a whole
  • sustain their natural curiosity, encouraging an enquiring mind and fostering an interest in lifelong          learning
  • develop a scientific approach to problem solving, encouraging critical thinking about phenomena,          events and issues
  • develop their ability to think and act creatively
  • adopt a disposition to act responsibly and in a balanced way in relation to scientific issues
  • develop positive attitudes to science and appreciate its contribution to and impact on society.

    The knowledge and understanding for earth and space, energy and forces and living things and the processes of life, reflect the major areas of scientific investigation and relate directly to children's everyday experiences. It is through the study of these areas that the skills outlined in the skills strands can be applied and developed. Learning in science provides children with a context within which they can develop the skills associated with investigations. Through their application children will learn to deal with more complex concepts and scientific knowledge. The extent to which they can develop the skills will depend on their age, their stage of development and the types of practical investigations that they experience.

    Science is a human endeavour that depends on creativity and imagination. It is important that learning activities encourage and develop these important characteristics and at the same time sustain and promote curiosity and enjoyment, so that a lasting interest in science is established.


    Health and safety

    Safety should permeate all aspects of the teaching of science. It can be used as a context to consider working in a safe and hygienic manner in a variety of situations across environmental studies. It can also be used as a focus for teaching about science by using health and safety issues as starting points. Teachers should always be aware of the safety implications of any exploratory or investigatory work and children should be encouraged to observe safe and hygienic ways of working during all practical activities.

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    © The 5-14 Curriculum (Scotland) Guidelines were produced by the Scottish Executive and Learning and Teaching Scotland and are reproduced with permission from the Queen's Printer for Scotland.