HOW A READER TITLED ADVENTURES IN THE PLAYGROUND MAY BE USED TO TEACH NATURAL SCIENCES IN THE FOUNDATION PHASE

In South Africa, teaching Natural sciences in the Foundation phase, is informed by the curriculum. Teaching Natural sciences entails content, process skills and values. As the literacy levels of young learners is low, it is imperative that language learning and use is integrated in teaching Natural sciences. A reader titled Adventures in the Playground, videos of teaching lessons and a teaching pack were developed using an inquiry-based approach, to teach the science concepts - water, insects, conductors and insulators to Foundation phase learners. A question that informed this process was, how can the reader be used to teach the concepts to foundation phase learners. A qualitative, interpretive descriptive narrative was presented. The narrative was on the structure, the focus and the learning that is assisted, how it may be used. The setting for the reader provided an avenue to teach the science concepts in an integrated manner and a context that learners are familiar with, through the words and visuals (drawings) in the playground. Educating children through everyday experiences and encouraging thought is critically important. Therefore, teaching Natural sciences through the use of contextually relevant resources should be considered for greater knowledge, skill understanding, development and use, including positive values of science in the lives of young learners.