Warren Bruce

Science Advisor

Background and Experience

I have been a Science Adviser to primary schools for the past sixteen years. I first came into the service in 1994 when a new curriculum was being introduced to New Zealand schools. This involved running workshops for teachers throughout the top half of the South Island.

I've had material published in a series of four books produced by the New Zealand Ministry of Education to support the Curriculum. Was a member of the Ministry of Education writing group for the Science Exemplars which contains annotated samples of children's work from level 1 (5/6 year olds) to level 5 (13 year olds).

As an adviser to schools I strongly believe that if you lose the classroom connection and forget the huge workload confronting teachers, it is time to get out. I have not as yet lost my empathy with the primary classroom teacher. I do not believe in theorising, but believe in taking the theory and applying it in the classroom in a meaningful way.

I also believe that no question is stupid….questions allow us to learn. We as teachers need to encourage children's questions and to allow them to investigate their questions and to share their findings. Arousing children's curiosity in the world around them is my aim in life.

I have presented workshops at CONASTA in Australia, throughout New Zealand, Bangkok and in the US.

I've developed units that integrate literacy and Science through Harry Potter, Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, George's Marvellous Medicine, etc. Science is such a wonderful vehicle for literacy and mathematics but above all Science learning for me is having fun.