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• VCSSU114

  Scientific understanding, including models and theories, are contestable and are refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community

  Elaborations

  • considering how ideas about disease transmission have changed from medieval time to the present as knowledge has developed
  • investigating the historical development of models of the structure of the atom
  • investigating how the theory of plate tectonics developed, based on evidence from seafloor spreading and occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic activity
  • recognising the contribution of Australian scientists, for example, Brian Schmidt and Penny Sackett, in the exploration and study of the Universe

  VCSSU114 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSSU056

  Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions

  Elaborations

  • considering how the use of materials including solids and liquids can affect the environment in different ways, for example, fertilisers and food and drink containers
  • exploring how science has contributed to understanding and resolving issues related to the effects of human activities, for example, clearing of bushland to build housing and roads and management of waste
  • investigating how people can use science to select appropriate materials for their work, for example, builders, clothing designers, engineers, gardeners and chefs

  VCSSU056 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSSU090

  Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations

  Elaborations

  • considering decisions made in relation to the recycling of greywater and blackwater
  • investigating strategies implemented to maintain part of the local environment, such as bushland, a beach, a lake, a desert or a shoreline
  • investigating the development of vehicles over time, including the application of science and technology to the designs of solar-powered or electric vehicles
  • relating regulations about wearing seatbelts or safety helmets to knowledge of forces and motion
  • discussing ethical issues that arise from organ transplantation

  VCSSU090 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSSU127

  The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental movement

  Elaborations

  • recognising the major plates on a world map
  • considering the role of heat energy and convection currents in the movement of tectonic plates
  • modelling sea-floor spreading
  • relating the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic activity to constructive and destructive plate boundaries
  • relating the extreme age and stability of a large part of the Australian continent to its plate tectonic history

  VCSSU127 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU031

  Science is about exploring the world around me

  Elaborations

  • recognising that structured investigations help us understand objects and the world around us
  • exploring and observing using different senses
  • working with others to observe and manipulate objects used in everyday life

  VCSSU031 | Science | Level D | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSSU129

  The Universe contains features including galaxies, stars and solar systems; the Big Bang theory can be used to explain the origin of the Universe

  Elaborations

  • identifying the evidence supporting the Big Bang theory, for example, Edwin Hubble’s observations and the detection of microwave radiation
  • recognising that the age of the Universe can be derived by applying knowledge of the Big Bang theory
  • describing how the evolution of the Universe, including the formation of galaxies and stars, has continued since the Big Bang

  VCSSU129 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU120

  The theory of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of living things and is supported by a range of scientific evidence

  Elaborations

  • describing biodiversity as a function of evolution
  • outlining processes involved in natural selection including variation, isolation and selection
  • investigating changes caused by natural selection in a particular population as a result of a specified selection pressure, for example, artificial selection in breeding for desired characteristics
  • evaluating and interpreting evidence for evolution, including the fossil record, chemical and anatomical similarities, and the geographical distribution of species

  VCSSU120 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• VCSSU089

  Scientific knowledge and understanding of the world changes as new evidence becomes available; science knowledge can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines and practice of science

  Elaborations

  • investigating how advances in telescopes and space probes have provided new evidence about space
  • investigating how the development of microscopes has changed understanding of cell function and malfunction, and how this has led to improved medical treatments for disease
  • investigating how knowledge of the location and extraction of mineral resources relies on expertise from across the disciplines of science
  • considering how advances in technology, combined with scientific understanding of the functioning of body systems, has enabled organ repair and replacement
  • investigating how land management practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can help inform sustainable management of the environment

  VCSSU089 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSIS088

  Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships

  Elaborations

  • discussing how models represent scientific ideas and constructing physical models to demonstrate an aspect of scientific understanding
  • using a variety of communication modes, for example, reports, explanations, arguments, debates and procedural accounts, to communicate science ideas
  • using labelled diagrams, including cross-sectional representations, to communicate ideas and processes

  VCSIS088 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Inquiry Skills | Communicating

• VCSSU062

  Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity

  Elaborations

  • considering how different human activities cause erosion of Earth's surface
  • considering the effect of events such as floods and extreme weather on landscapes
  • exploring a local area that has changed as a result of natural processes, for example, an eroded gully, sand dunes or river banks

  VCSSU062 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU041

  People use science in their daily lives

  Elaborations

  • monitoring information about the environment and Earth's resources, for example, rainfall, water levels and temperature
  • identifying the ways humans manage and protect resources, for example, reducing waste and conserving water

  VCSSU041 | Science | Foundation to Level 2 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSIS110

  Construct and use a range of representations including graphs, keys and models to record and summarise data from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, and to represent and analyse patterns and relationships

  Elaborations

  • understanding different types of diagrammatic, graphical and physical representations and considering their strengths and limitations
  • comparing and contrasting data from a number of sources in order to create a summary of collected data
  • using diagrammatic representations to convey abstract ideas and to simplify complex situations

  VCSIS110 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Inquiry Skills | Recording and processing

• VCSSU115

  Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries

  Elaborations

  • considering how the properties of electromagnetic radiation relate to its uses, for example, radar, medical diagnosis and treatment, mobile phone communications and microwave cooking
  • considering how information technology can be applied to different areas of science, for example, bioinformatics, the Square Kilometre Array, DNA sequencing and the analysis of radio astronomy signals
  • considering how computer modelling and imaging technologies has improved knowledge and predictability of phenomena, for example, climate change, atmospheric pollution, plate tectonic movement, and body system functions and interactions

  VCSSU115 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSSU099

  Predictable phenomena on Earth, including seasons and eclipses, are caused by the relative positions of the Sun, Earth and the Moon

  Elaborations

  • comparing times for the rotation of Earth, Sun and Moon, and comparing the times for the orbits of Earth and the Moon
  • modelling the relative movements of the Earth, Sun and Moon and how natural phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses and phases of the Moon occur
  • explaining why different regions of Earth experience different seasonal conditions

  VCSSU099 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSIS113

  Communicate ideas, findings and solutions to problems including identifying impacts and limitations of conclusions and using appropriate scientific language and representations

  Elaborations

  • using digital technologies to access information, to communicate and collaborate with others on and off site and to present science ideas
  • selecting and using appropriate language and representations to communicate science ideas within a specified text type and for a specified audience

  VCSIS113 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Inquiry Skills | Communicating

• VCSIS010

  Communicate by initiating and refining their responses and using accept-or-reject gestures or actions

  Elaborations

  • intentionally responding to an activity, change, object with accept-or-reject gestures or actions
  • gaining the attention of familiar adults and intentionally communicating with vocal sounds, eye gaze, facial expression

  VCSIS010 | Science | Level A | Science Inquiry Skills | Communicating

• VCSIS137

  Construct and use a range of representations, including graphs, keys, models and formulas, to record and summarise data from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, to represent qualitative and quantitative patterns or relationships, and distinguish between discrete and continuous data

  Elaborations

  • using spreadsheets to present data in tables and graphical forms and to carry out mathematical analyses of data
  • designing and constructing appropriate graphs to represent data and to look for trends and patterns

  VCSIS137 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Inquiry Skills | Recording and processing

• VCSIS134

  Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically, including identification of independent, dependent and controlled variables

  Elaborations

  • formulating questions that can be investigated within the scope of the classroom or field with available resources
  • developing ideas from students' own or others' investigations and experiences to investigate further
  • revising and refining research questions to target specific information and data collection or finding a solution to the specific problem identified

  VCSIS134 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Inquiry Skills | Questioning and predicting

• VCSIS140

  Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations

  Elaborations

  • using secondary sources as well as students’ own findings to help explain a scientific concept
  • using a range of representations, including mathematical and symbolic forms, to communicate science ideas
  • presenting results and ideas using formal experimental reports, oral presentations, multimodal presentations, poster presentations and contributing to group discussions

  VCSIS140 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Inquiry Skills | Communicating

• VCSSU061

  Earth’s rotation on its axis causes regular changes, including night and day

  Elaborations

  • modelling the relative sizes and movement of the Sun, Earth and Moon
  • describing timescales for the rotation of the Earth
  • constructing sundials and investigating how they work

  VCSSU061 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences