Natural sciences Methodology

NATURAL SCIENCES METHODOLOGYBig ideas in ScienceCONTRIBUTERS:

MAKHUNGA KX

MOATLHODI TS

RADEBE N

SEKOKODI N

SKOSANA BG

YUNUS NA

WHAT ARE BIG IDEAS? A big idea is defined as a purpose or aim that helps us make sense of lots of confusing experiences and facts. It’s like a picture that connects the dots to make clear sense.

A big idea is thus a way of seeing better, making connections and working smarter, not just a vague notion or another piece of knowledge. It is more like a lens for looking than another object seen.

WHY SHOULD BIG IDEAS BE INCLUDED IN TEACHING AND LEARNING? Big ideas inform the whole (or significant pieces) of your course.

Provide a “conceptual lens” for prioritizing content Serve as organizers for connecting important facts, skills, and actions

Transfer to other contexts

BIG IDEAS There are 10 big ideas of science There are 4 big ideas about science These big ideas represent overarching principles in the science curriculum,

and they are just that, ideas. They are statements about what the main principles of each curriculum encompass. They are not definitions of terms.

OUR BIG IDEAS Big idea 11: Science assumes that for every effect there is one or

more causes Science is a search to explain and understand phenomena in the natural

world in terms of causes. Proposed explanations should be based on supporting evidence from observations and experiments. There is no single scientific method for generating and testing scientific explanations.

Our translation of this idea: Mining has an impact on the environment and people’s lives… Big

Idea 1

Big Idea 13:The knowledge produced by science is used in some technologies to create products to serve human ends

The use of scientific ideas in technologies has made considerable changes in many aspects of human activity. Advances in technologies enable further scientific activity; in turn this increases understanding helping to satisfy human curiosity about the natural world. In some areas of human activity technology is ahead of scientific ideas, but in others scientific ideas precede technology.

Our translation of this idea: Positive impacts of mining on human livelihood… Big Idea 2

Big idea 14: Applications of science often have ethical, social, economic and political implications

The use of scientific knowledge in technologies makes many innovations possible. Whether or not particular applications of science are desirable is a matter that science alone cannot address. Ethical and moral judgments may be needed, based on such considerations as human safety and impacts on people and the environment.

Our translation of this idea: Applications of mining often have ethical, social, economic and

political implications… Big idea 3

BIG IDEA 1 :MINING HAS AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE’S LIVES

What do you intend the learners toLearn about the idea? Learners need to know about the

impact that mining has on the environment, on the people’s lives, safety and overall well-being. E.g. global warming. Furthermore learners need to know about the different effects mining has in detail so as to can be able to suggest ways of reducing the effects.

Why is it important for learners toKnow this? It is important for learners to

know this as it will help them appreciate not only the by-products that are obtained from mining but as well as the very environment yielding the resources, additionally it is important for learners to know about this so that they can be able to come up with innovative ways of lessening the impacts that mining has on the environment and people’s lives.

What else do you know about this idea(that you do not intend Learners to know yet)?

Mining has an effect on the structure of the soil, not only on the environment in terms of pollution. With the thumping and the pounding that occurs in the mines, the structure of the soil can be affected which could at times result in landslides, mostly rock slides as the pounding changes the slope of the earth (land formations) at the point where it is occurring.

Structure of the soil

What difficulties/limitations areConnected with teaching this idea?

When learners hear the word mining the first thing that would come to their minds is ‘gold’ only, some learners may find it difficult at first to consider that there are other resources that are being mined

Learners may have not seen a live mine before due to mines being closed owing to the fact that resources are limited

What knowledge do you have about learners’ thinking which influence You’re teaching of this idea?

Most of the learners do not know what really goes on in a mine, so even as I will be explaining the impacts that it has, I will need to consider that, and try to bring them a bit up to speed in terms of the processes so that it will be easier for them to grasp the topic

What other factors influence youTeaching this idea?

The fact that some of the learner’s parents may be employed in mines, now when discussing the negative impacts it is likely that some of these learners may feel somehow that the job that is sustaining their family is on the other hand affecting the environment as well as the people in that environment.

What teaching procedures would you use (and particular reasons for using These) to engage with this idea?

Discussions, specifically De Bono’s thinking hats, considering that the topic that is being dealt with is controversial. The teacher would group the learners into the different colours and then deal with a case study or an article on the impacts of mining on the environment as well as on the people’s lives.

This procedure would be used as it brings about the different views or perspectives when coming to mining, giving the learners an opportunity of viewing the topic holistically. It also stimulates the learners and ensures collaboration and engagement in the classroom

BIG IDEA 2: POSITIVE IMPACTS OF MINING ON HUMAN LIVELIHOODWhat do you intend the learners toLearn about the idea? Mining is the main contributor to the

growth of our economy. Through job opportunities that are created by the mining sector, people are able to contribute significantly to the growth of our economy. Mining produces commodities which the country can trade with, with other countries and thus boost economic growth. Mining contributes significantly to community uplifting through various companies bursary schemes

Why is it important for learners toKnow this? Learners will be enabled to look

at mining holistically; to observe the positive impacts of mining and not only focus on the negative impacts that have been reported on the media

Learners, through this idea, will formulate their own informed opinion about mining rather than to take what is being reported on the media


Learners need not to know about the factors that favor and hinder mining in South Africa as this topic is dealt with in Grade 12 as specified by the CAPS document.


Proving that mining has a positive effect on human livelihood as it is always portrayed in the media as being negative, this alone can create a limitation.


Learners already have a negative view in terms of mining based on what is being reported on the media and how the media has portrayed the mining sector in South Africa. For example, they always report about the work conditions that miners work under, however they seldom report on the number of people that have been employed by the mining sector and the bursaries that have been given to students by the mining sector.

Reports likely seen by learners


One teaching procedure that would be used in the classroom discussion and in combination with question and answer method. Classroom discussion will allow learners to formulate their own opinions and construct their own knowledge. Question and Answer method will be used to allow learners to ask questions to enhance their understanding and for the teacher to check whether learners have understood the content.

Which specific ways would you use of ascertaining learners’ understanding (not confusion) about This idea? You need to include likely Range of learners’ responses.

One way that the question and answer technique would be used as stated above, it will be utilized to check for understanding and to clarify any misconceptions that learners might have. For example, I may ask learners to name minerals that are mined in South Africa and their responses would include Gold, Coal and Platinum. Another question would be, how does mining contribute to the growth of our economy and their responses would be: Mining could provide employment for people Through mining our country is able to participate in foreign trade and that boost our economic growth.

BIG IDEA 3: APPLICATIONS OF MINING OFTEN HAVE ETHICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONSWhat do you intend the learners toLearn about the idea? Learners need to know about the

damage mining does to places with high tourist or cultural heritage value, the loss of farming and wildlife environments and about the laws that govern mining to protect people and the environment.

Why is it important for learners toKnow this? Learners should know about the

impact that mining has on various sectors of society because South Africa is a country that relies heavily on the mining industry for large economic gain. Learners also live in an area that has many mines and became densely populated because of mining therefore they see the effects of mining in everyday life but are not aware of the causes.


Mining’s impact on the environment as a human influence is further covered in much more detail in term four of grade 11 in life sciences.

In geography, grade 12 term 3, the economic point of view of mining is covered that includes the contributions, significance and economic geography of miming in South Africa


Although there are many active and inactive mines around Johannesburg, learners live more closely to the city and may find mining an abstract concept and the effects removed from their daily lives.

Names of laws are not mentioned and only a basic overview of why laws are put in place is given in the textbook which leads to the idea that regulating mining is a simple process


Learners might have never seen mines or pass mines/ mine dumps every day and not know they are there.

Learners do not know the value of money that is, saying the mining industry contributes 60 million to the economy that would know that’s it’s a lot of money but not how that money is spent.

What other factors influence youTeaching this idea?

Learners are in grade 9 and it is the fourth term. They will need to make subject choices soon and the mining sector offers many different kinds of jobs that can be mentioned.


In the De Bono’s thinking hats activity I will walk around each group and use discussion method with each group to see if each group is on track with the perspective hat that they were given. If the group is moving away from the topic then I will guide them back on to the topic or if they are completing the activity fine by themselves then words of encouragement will be given. This method makes it easy to stimulate the opinions and ideas of the learners to be given and further develops their social skills in a mock work environment

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIMEAny questions?

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Natural sciences Methodology