Synopsis

This unit is designed to help those working with children between the ages of 3 and 8. You will be encouraged to explore your knowledge, feelings and attitudes in language, mathematics and science in order to understand the place that these subjects have in the life of both individuals and society as a whole.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Learning outcomes
1.1 An overview of the unit
1.2 What the unit is about
1.3 Language, mathematics and science in the unit
1.4 Subject knowledge
1.5 Talking, thinking and learning
2.1 Language in everyday life
2.2 Language and shopping
2.3 ‘English’ as a school subject
2.4 What do we know about language?
2.5 Communicating with language
2.6 Context and language variation
Summary
3 Language, mathematics and science in context
4.1 From awareness to understanding
4.2 Knowing mathematics
4.3 Thinking mathematics
4.4 Summary
5.1 Introduction to the social construction of scientific knowledge
5.2 Scientists as a community of practice
5.3 Objectivity and subjectivity, induction and deduction
5.4 A brief history of scientific revolutions
5.5 How society constructs scientific thinking
5.6 Public understanding and perception of science
5.7 Summary
6.1 Knowledge and society
6.2 Shaping knowledge
6.3 Meaning in action and interaction
Next steps
References
Acknowledgements

 

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