Introduction

The Science Toolbox has been developed to support primary school teachers in their delivery of Science in the New Zealand Curriculum. This curriculum can be delivered effectively only if students are provided with practical experiences. Practical work enables students to develop the essential skills of the curriculum, especially their problem-solving and investigative skills, and it is an essential component of a classroom science programme.

This publication will enable teachers to identify materials for use in their science programmes. Schools will not need to buy every item listed - nor do the lists include everything needed for science programmes. However, the lists will help teachers identify gaps in a school's current provision for a science programme. They also suggest other ways to use existing materials and promote the cross-curricular use of materials.

The equipment list does not include the safety equipment that every board of trustees must provide to ensure that science teaching takes place in a safe and healthy learning environment. (A list of suggested minimum safety equipment is provided in Appendix 1).