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• Science: Levels 3 and 4 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 4, students describe situations where science understanding can influence their own and others’ actions. They explain the effects of Earth’s rotation on its axis. They distinguish between temperature and heat and use examples to illustrate how heat is produced and transferred...

  Level description | Science | Levels 3 and 4

• 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

• VCSIS139

  Use knowledge of scientific concepts to evaluate investigation conclusions, including assessing the approaches used to solve problems, critically analysing the validity of information obtained from primary and secondary sources, suggesting possible alternative explanations and describing specific...

  Elaborations

  • discussing what is meant by 'validity' and how we can evaluate the validity of information in secondary sources
  • judging the validity of science-related media reports and how these reports might be interpreted by the public
  • using primary or secondary scientific evidence to support or refute a conclusion or claim
  • suggesting more than one possible explanation of the data presented

  VCSIS139 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Inquiry Skills | Analysing and evaluating

• VCSSU093

  Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs and can be affected by human activity

  Elaborations

  • constructing and interpreting food chains and food webs to show relationships between organisms in an environment
  • recognising the role of microorganisms within food chains and food webs
  • researching examples of human impacts on specific ecosystems, for example, the use of fire by traditional Aboriginal people, the effects of palm oil harvesting, deforestation, agricultural practices or the introduction of new species

  VCSSU093 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• 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

• VCSSU042

  Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met

  Elaborations

  • recognising common features of animals, for example, head, legs and wings
  • describing the use of animal body parts for particular purposes, for example, moving and feeding
  • identifying common features of plants, for example, leaves and roots
  • recognising that different living things live in different places, for example, land and water
  • exploring what happens when habitats change and some living things can no longer have their needs met

  VCSSU042 | Science | Foundation to Level 2 | Science Understanding | Biological 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

• VCSIS040

  Use both general terms and simple, scientific vocabulary to begin to describe their activities and observations

  Elaborations

  • working in a small group (with teacher support) using photos and real objects to describe what they have done and what they have found out
  • communicating ideas using images, key words, alternative and augmentative communication systems and answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions related to their findings

  VCSIS040 | Science | Level D | Science Inquiry Skills | Communicating

• VCSIS111

  Use scientific knowledge and findings from investigations to identify relationships, evaluate claims and draw conclusions

  Elaborations

  • identifying data that provides evidence to support or refute the hypothesis being tested
  • drawing conclusions based on a range of evidence including from primary and secondary sources

  VCSIS111 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Inquiry Skills | Analysing and evaluating

• VCSIS072

  Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language

  Elaborations

  • using simple explanations and arguments, reports or graphical representations to communicate ideas to other students
  • communicating with other students carrying out similar investigations to share experiences and improve investigation skills

  VCSIS072 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Inquiry Skills | Communicating

• 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

• VCSSU073

  Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to inform personal and community decisions and to solve problems that directly affect people’s lives

  Elaborations

  • exploring objects and devices that include parts that involve the reflection, absorption or refraction of light, for example, mirrors, sunglasses and prisms
  • considering how electricity and electrical appliances have changed the way some people live
  • considering how decisions are made to grow particular plants and crops depending on environmental conditions
  • considering how guidelines help to ensure the safe use of electrical devices
  • comparing the benefits of using solid, liquid or gaseous fuels to heat a home
  • designing shelters for living things that are exposed to changed or harsh environments, for example, as a result of bushfire or displacement

  VCSSU073 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Understanding | Science as a human endeavour

• VCSSU081

  Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity; electric circuits enable this energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy

  Elaborations

  • recognising the need for a complete circuit to allow the flow of electricity
  • exploring circuit features, for example, wires and switches, and electrical devices, for example, light globes, LEDs and motors
  • investigating different electrical conductors and insulators
  • investigating how moving air and water can turn turbines to generate electricity
  • investigating how solar panels can generate electricity

  VCSSU081 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Understanding | Physical sciences

• Science: Foundation to Level 2 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 2, students describe examples of how people use science in their daily lives. They identify and describe examples of the external features and basic needs of living things. They describe how different places meet the needs of living things. They describe the properties, behaviour...

  Level description | Science | Foundation to Level 2

• VCSSU015

  Objects can be changed and manipulated

  Elaborations

  • exploring the effects that simple physical actions have on everyday objects, for example, pushing a toy car to make it move, letting go of an inflated balloon, dropping a ball
  • investigating how objects can change shape, for example, by squeezing, tearing, twisting, pulling, dropping

  VCSSU015 | Science | Level B | Science Understanding | Physical sciences

• VCSSU005

  Objects can be moved and touched

  Elaborations

  • demonstrating an awareness of force by watching or causing objects to bounce, swing, roll or slide
  • demonstrating an awareness of energy by responding to a variety of phenomena, for example, flashing lights, noisy toys, mechanical objects moving

  VCSSU005 | Science | Level A | Science Understanding | Physical sciences

• VCSSU013

  Objects can be the same or different and can look and feel different

  Elaborations

  • mixing and playing with various materials, for example, using sand and water to build sandcastles, or pouring water onto a sandy footpath to make a water track
  • exploring and manipulating variety of materials in structured and unstructured activities

  VCSSU013 | Science | Level B | Science Understanding | Chemical sciences

• VCSSU025

  Objects can move in different ways

  Elaborations

  • developing a basic understanding of how things move, for example, push and pull, drop or throw, battery power
  • using words that describe simple forces, for example, ‘fast’, ‘slow’, ‘push’, ‘pull’

  VCSSU025 | Science | Level C | Science Understanding | Physical sciences

• VCSSU014

  The weather and time of day can change

  Elaborations

  • identifying the characteristics of day and night, for example, morning, evening, sun, moon, stars, sunrise, sunset
  • answering with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response to questions related to changes in the weather, for example, ‘Is the weather today different from yesterday?’, ‘Do you think the weather will change after lunch?’

  VCSSU014 | Science | Level B | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU032

  Living things can be plants or animals

  Elaborations

  • observing the life cycles of living things
  • displaying an understanding of the requirements of living things by caring for them, for example, watering plants and feeding pets

  VCSSU032 | Science | Level D | Science Understanding | Biological sciences