1. 1 Australian Academy of Science Professor Jenny Graves Foreign Secretary

2. 2 2 Primary Connections: linking science with literacy Vision: Engaged students – Confident and competent teachers The purpose of Primary Connections: linking science with literacy is to: increase the quality and quantity of science teaching + learning in primary schools.

3. 3 Primary Connections - a two-pronged approach Professional learning programme complimented by curriculum resources Funded by the Australian Government

4. 4 Making Connections – training manual and DVD Overview Facilitation tools and techniques Introduction to Primary Connections Science and literacy 5Es Investigating Assessment Cooperative learning Indigenous perspective Unit planning Questioning Minds DVD Reflecting and journaling 12 segments

5. 5 Trained leaders 2006 - 2008: 125 University lecturers (ie Tertiary Facilitators) (2 days training) 880 Teacher leaders (2 days training) 400 Facilitators (3 days training) 2,700 workshops conducted by Academy staff and trained facilitators PrimaryConnections professional learning: Building confidence and competence

6. 6 66 PrimaryConnections Curriculum resources 2006 2008 2007 2009 19 award winning units Background Science CD in every unit Links science with literacy Incorporates indigenous perspectives Supporting web resources: Unit overviews Assessment rubrics Equipment lists ‘How to’ appendices Award winning units Category winner

7. 7 Science and literacy – a mutually supportive relationship Measuring and recording observations of broad bean seed germination in a science journal Creating a labelled diagram to represent understanding of parts of a germinating broad bean seed

8. 8 What is the evidence of impact? Stage 3 Research Report No 15 (June 2008) STUDENTS Reported a greater perception of frequency of science lessons Were significantly more curious during science lessons Were more likely to affirm that they learned interesting things in science Is the achievement on literacies of science and science processes by Primary Connections students greater than that of students from non-Primary Connections classes in equivalent schools? JurisdictionNumber of studentsNumber of schools WA111318 Queensland3548 Total146726

9. 9 Overall results ** ** p<.01 Means of processes of science scores for sub-groups of year 5-7 students

10. 10 Overall results ** ** p<.01 Means of literacies of science scores for sub-groups of year 5-7 students

11. 11 Primary Connections Unit distribution Over 176,000 units distributed to 20 August 2009 ie 48% Australian primary schools

12. 12 International Malaysian and Thai representatives attended a 2 day Curriculum Leader Program with Australian teachers in Sydney and Melbourne in 2008. The Inter Academy Panel has provided US $ 50,000 in seed funding to conduct a Primary Connections workshop in Singapore mid - 2010 with FASAS and the Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia (AASA) as partners. The Primary Connections team with Asian delegates 2008

13. 13 Singapore workshop mid 2010 3 – day workshop June 2010 school holiday period Focus on training teacher-leaders to help others teach science There will be time on the last day for strategic planning All costs for the conference will be covered by the IAP grant Participants will need to fund their own travel and accommodation www.science.org.au/primary connections