Kindergarten to Grade 4 Science

Manitoba Curriculum Framework of Outcomes

Manitoba Foundations for Scientific Literacy

The Five Foundations

To develop scientifically literate students, science learning experiences must incorporate the essential aspects of science and related applications. These essential aspects, the foundations for scientific literacy, have been adapted from the Pan-Canadian Science Framework to address the needs of Manitoba students. Manitoba science curricula are built upon the following five foundations for scientific literacy:

1. Nature of Science and Technology
2. Science, Technology, Society, and Environment (STSE)
3. Scientific and Technological Skills and Attitudes
4. Essential Science Knowledge
5. Unifying Concepts

Producing science knowledge is an intrinsically collective endeavour. There is no such thing as stand-alone science. Scientists submit models and solutions to the assessment of their peers who judge their logical and experimental soundness by reference to the body of existing knowledge.
(Larochelle, M. and Désautels, J, 1992)

In the following pages each foundation is described and accompanied by general learning outcomes, which further define expectations for student learning. These general learning outcomes constitute a global picture of science learning from Kindergarten to Senior 4.

Conceptual Organizer

The learning outcomes presented in this Science Framework address the Foundation Skill Areas and other essential elements common to all Manitoba curricula (A Foundation for Excellence, 1995). The following conceptual organizer (Figure 4 27.0 KB) illustrates these and other key components upon which Manitoba science curricula are based.

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