Science
Science provides an empirical way of answering interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world. The knowledge it produces has proved to be a reliable basis for action in our personal, social and economic lives. Science is a dynamic, collaborative and creative human endeavour arising from our desire to make sense of our world through exploring the unknown, investigating universal mysteries, making predictions and solving problems. Science aims to understand a large number of observations in terms of a much smaller number of broad principles. Science knowledge is contestable and is revised, refined and extended as new evidence arises.
The Australian Curriculum: Science provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of important science concepts and processes, the practices used to develop scientific knowledge, of science’s contribution to our culture and society, and its applications in our lives. The curriculum supports students to develop the scientific knowledge, understandings and skills to make informed decisions about local, national and global issues and to participate, if they so wish, in science-related careers.
In addition to its practical applications, learning science is a valuable pursuit in its own right. Students can experience the joy of scientific discovery and nurture their natural curiosity about the world around them. In doing this, they develop critical and creative thinking skills and challenge themselves to identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions using scientific methods. The wider benefits of this ‘scientific literacy’ are well established, including giving students the capability to investigate the natural world and changes made to it through human activity.
The ability to think and act in scientific ways helps build the broader suite of capabilities in students as confident, self-motivated and active members of our society.
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Recycling Case Study – Soft Plastics
A 60-minute lesson in which students will explore how changes from solid to liquid and liquid to solid can help in the process of recycling plastic.
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Natural Disasters Inquiry Task - Researching
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Plate Tectonics
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore tectonic plates and the effects their movements have on the surface of the earth.
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What is Light?
A 60 minute lesson in which students will research the concept of light and generate a list of statements that can be tested.
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Changes I Can See!
This Earth and Space Sciences unit explores how and why changes occur in the sky and landscape, and develops students' ability to describe these changes in their local environment.
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Knowing Matters!
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore how knowledge of states of matter and their changes can help inform practices and decision making.
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Design a Musical Instrument
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of sound.
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Changing States of Matter
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore the way solids, liquids and gases change in different situations.
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What's the Matter?
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And Further On - Research Into the Environmental Impact of Certain Materials
A 60 minute lesson in which students will be introduced to a research task for them to undertake about a material of their choosing.
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Sensational Senses
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore the five senses and the information they provide.
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The Solar System Begins
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Electricity Explained
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate an understanding of energy transfer and transformation when generating electricity.
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Changing States – Assessment
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how adding and removing heat can cause solids and liquids to change states.
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What State?
A 60-minute lesson in which students will establish that matter can be classified as solid, liquid or gas.
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Is It Sustainable? Evaluating Sources of Electricity
A 60 minute lesson in which students will consider whether energy sources are sustainable.
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Light and Shadow - Design an Experiment
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate an understanding of light and fair testing.
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Reflecting Light
A 60 minute lesson in which students will use mirrors to investigate some of the properties of reflected light.
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Marvellous Materials
A 60-minute lesson in which students recap their prior knowledge of materials and their physical features.
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Assessment - Changes I Can See
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Material World Unit Plan
This Chemical Sciences unit investigates natural and processed materials. Demonstrations and experimental procedures are explored with particular attention given to the scientific method.
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Going Through Stages
A 60 minute lesson in which students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of simple life cycles.
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Astounding Ants
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the external features of an ant.
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Slime - Solid, Liquid or Gas?
A 60 minute lesson in which students will recognise that not all substances can be easily classified on the basis of their observable properties.
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Gases
A 60 minute lesson in which students will observe that gases have mass and take up space.
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Liquids
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the observable characteristics of liquids and how they behave in different ways.
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Solids
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the observable characteristics of solids and how they behave in different ways.
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Matter Matters!
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Science Experiment - Suck It Up!
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate materials and their absorptive properties through a scientific investigation.
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Natural Science - How Do People Use Natural Materials?
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate the use of natural materials by humans throughout history.
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Interpreting the Night Sky
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Sisters of the Solar System - The Jovian Planets