Learning, in science education, occurs in an inquisitive, cooperative, nurturing atmosphere. Direct contact with nature and natural phenomena is the experience base for scientific knowledge. Learning about nature and natural phenomena occurs first through the senses.
Direct observation provides the basis for generating and testing informal hypotheses.
The role of the senses in direct observation of nature provides the experiential basis for later abstract thought. Within each science discipline, the cognitive framework is presented, followed by subsequent elaboration and detail. The cognitive framework is the reference point for each subsequent lesson. Classification serves as the primary cognitive organizational tool. An understanding of the interrelationships within the science discipline is emphasized.