Natural science subject curriculum (NAT1-02)

Basic skills

Basic skills are integrated in the competence aims where they contribute to development of the competence in the subject, while also being part of this competence. In the natural science subject the basic skills are understood as follows:

Being able to express oneself orally and in writing in the natural science subject means presenting and describing one's own experiences and observations from nature. In the natural science subject, written reports from experiments, fieldwork, excursions and technological development processes are an important part of the work. This includes the ability to formulate questions and hypotheses and to use natural science terms and concepts. Arguing for one's own assessments and giving constructive feedback is important in the natural science subject.

Being able to read in the natural science subject means collecting information, interpreting and reflecting on the content of natural science texts, brochures, newspapers, books and information on the internet. Reading in the natural science subject also includes reading manuals, recipes, tables, various graphs and symbols.

Numeracy in the natural science subject means using numbers and calculations to register and calculate results from one's own measurements and to prepare tables and graphs with natural science content. Being able to do mathematics also means using and interpreting formulas and models from the real world and processing and interpreting various types of data.

Being able to use digital tools in the natural science subject means being able to use such tools for exploration, measurement, visualisation, simulation, registration, documentation and publication when performing experiments and fieldwork. Digital animations, simulations and games are good aids for stimulating creativity, and demonstrating and visualising natural science problems and research questions. Critical assessment of internet-based information reinforces the work in this subject. Digital communication systems make it possible to discuss natural science problems and research questions.