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Nobel Laureate, Professor Brian Schmidt, donates $100,000 to PrimaryConnections

In 2003 a proposal initiated by the Australian Academy of Science and titled the Primary Science and Literacy Project argued for the development of an innovative program for Australian primary schools to improve learning outcomes in both literacy and science. The outcome was a sophisticated professional learning program supported by rich curriculum resources to improve both the quality and quantity of primary science teaching.

Eight years later we are still making a difference and have recently welcomed Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt’s generous donation of $100,000 to our program, PrimaryConnections: Linking science with literacy. We would like to thank Professor Schmidt and all our supporters for believing in us.

"...this is an incredibly powerful way to teach students. For someone who’s barely taught science in quite a long teaching career, I’m now so excited about science. I just can’t get enough of it. I can’t speak highly enough of this way of teaching and learning."  – Robyn Strangward, Executive Teacher, ACT

PrimaryConnections is committed to teaching and learning which aims to enhance primary school teachers’ confidence and competence for teaching science.

To enquire about making a donation to the PrimaryConnections program, please contact Shelley Peers on +61 2 9386 4544 or shelley.peers@science.org.au

What is PrimaryConnections?

‘PrimaryConnections: Linking science with literacy’ is an innovative approach to teaching and learning which aims to enhance primary school teachers’ confidence and competence for teaching science.

A partnership between the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, PrimaryConnections focuses on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in both science and literacy.

PrimaryConnections key features:

  An inquiry and investigative approach

  A comprehensive professional learning program

  Award winning curriculum resources which link science with literacy

  An ongoing research and evaluation program

PrimaryConnections alignment to the Australian Curriculum: Science. See here.

Latest news

• New PrimaryConnections curriculum units now available
  Year 1 Earth and Space sciences strand
  Up, down and all around

  Year 2 Chemical sciences strand
  All mixed up

  Year 5 Earth and Space sciences strand
  Earth’s place in Space

  Year 6 Physical sciences strand
  Essential energy

  Go to our online order form to order the three new units now!

• PrimaryConnections Science background CD is now available online here

• NOTICE OF TITLE CHANGES
  Since the three latest published units were trialed their titles have changed as follows:
  
  ‘Buried in time’ is now called ‘Beneath our feet’
  ‘Growing and changing’ is now called ‘Watch it grow!
  ‘Runny or not’ is now called ‘Melting moments’
• PrimaryConnections Publication release dates. See here.

• The Future of PrimaryConnections – read media releases here

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Abacus Educational Suppliers has developed a number of kits to support the implementation of PrimaryConnections. These kits have been integrated into a versatile Science Organiser. The Australian Academy of Science endorses, as suitable for use with its PrimaryConnections units, the selection by Abacus Educational Suppliers, for the equipment kits and storage systems offered for use in those units. Further information on these kits can be found at: www.abacused.com.au

PrimaryConnections is supported by the Australian Government