Abstract The purpose of the study is to contribute knowledge about working with physics in preschool, and how the youngest children perceive natural science phenomena, and to make visible how educators work with the subject of physics. Our focus is forces, and we therefore designed and allowed the children and educators to conduct experiments on, gravity, static electricity and magnetism. The study involved 19 children, aged 1 to 3 and 5 educators.  The data collection method for this study consists of observations of the children when they experiment, as well as semi-structured with the educators. We used video recording when conducting the experiments and voice-recording when interviewing the educators. The interviews used a phenomengraphic methodological approch in order to capture preschool teachers different experiences of physics.  The youngest children expressed themselves with body movements, mimicry and the older children also expressed hypotheses and reasoning. The results of the interviews show that educators to a large extent feel unsafe when it comes to science in preschool. Unsure about how and what to say, and how to perform spontaneous physics aktivities, and unsure what level is appropriate for the younger children.

This work deals with setting of dependability of static electricity meters. The first two chapters deal about electricity meters and dependability in general than there are introduced three possible ways for getting dependability parameters. The first methode is data collection from the field. The second methode is reliability prediction from component's reliability. The third methode is aging life tests. Conclusion contains evaluation of results and highligting of importance for practical usage.

Lightning as a natural phenomenon is shallowly presented in the Namibian curriculum documents such as the syllabus and textbooks. This gap in curriculum triggered my interest to investigate whether learners’ meaning-making in static electricity was enabled or constrained by elicitation and integration of their cultural beliefs and experiences about lightning and by their practical activities. This study was conducted with my grade 8 learners at the school where I am currently teaching. The school is located in a rural area in Ohangwena region in Northern Namibia. The study is situated within an interpretive paradigm. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was adopted. I considered this methodological orientation appropriate in this study as it allowed me to use the following data gathering methods: document analysis, brainstorming, discussions and presentations, semi-structured interview, focus group interview, observation and an assessment test. Multiple methods to gather data were used for triangulation and validation purposes. For data analysis purposes, the data sets were colour-coded to derive themes and analytical statements. Ethical considerations were also taken seriously in this study and all participants gave consent. An analysis of data revealed that there is no learning objective or basic competence in the Namibian Physical Science syllabus for grade 8-10 that requires learners to bring in their cultural beliefs and experiences, in particular, about lightning. Yet the study revealed that learners possess a lot of prior everyday scientific and non-scientific knowledge and experiences about lightning that they had acquired from their communities. Also, mobilization of learners' everyday knowledge and experiences about lightning enabled learner engagement during the science lessons. Likewise, engaging learners in practical activities in static electricity helped them to make meaning of scientific concepts. Based on my research findings, I therefore, recommend that learners' prior everyday knowledge and experiences about lightning should be incorporated during teaching and learning of the topic on static electricity.

The aim of this study is to investigate how preschool children, aged 3-5 years, create meaning of static electricity in an activity led by a pedagogue, how this is expressed and what part the pedagogue takes in children’s meaning making. The method used was participant observation and video camera was used to document a designed activity. The observations took place at four occasions with four different groups and the observations was conducted in different rooms of various sizes, which were provided by the preschool. Equipment used in this study are: Balloons, pvc-pipes, salt, different kinds of papers, aluminum cans and thin plastic bags. Results in this study show that the children create meaning of the activity first and foremost by exploring interplay and conversations. They solve the task at hand working together and with support of the pedagogue. The role of pedagogue in the children’s meaning making is to present tasks which have moderate levels of difficulties, and to direct the children’s focus by using questions concerning the current phenomenon. In so doing, they support the children to succeed. Factors of importance for the children’s meaning making is to be given the opportunity to explore, their curiosity, joy and being heard.