Search results

Result list

• VCSSU122

  All matter is made of atoms which are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons; natural radioactivity arises from the decay of nuclei in atoms

  Elaborations

  • describing and modelling the structure of atoms in terms of the nucleus, protons, neutrons and electrons
  • comparing the mass and charge of protons, neutrons and electrons
  • describing in simple terms how alpha and beta particles and gamma radiation are released from unstable atoms

  VCSSU122 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Chemical sciences

• VCSSU060

  Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties; these properties can influence their use

  Elaborations

  • describing a range of common materials, such as metals or plastics, and their uses
  • investigating a particular property across a range of materials
  • selecting materials for a specified use based on their properties

  VCSSU060 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Understanding | Chemical sciences

• VCSIS071

  Reflect on an investigation, including whether a test was fair or not

  Elaborations

  • discussing as a whole class the idea of fairness in testing
  • discussing which aspects of the investigation helped improve fairness, and any aspects that weren't fair
  • reflecting on investigations, identifying what went well, what was difficult or didn't work so well, and how well the investigation helped answer the question

  VCSIS071 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Inquiry Skills | Analysing and evaluating

• VCSSU077

  Changes to materials can be reversible, including melting, freezing, evaporating, or irreversible, including burning and rusting

  Elaborations

  • investigating the three changes of state in water
  • investigating irreversible changes, for example, rusting, burning and cooking
  • exploring how reversible changes can be used to recycle materials

  VCSSU077 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Understanding | Chemical 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

• 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

• VCSIS112

  Reflect on the method used to investigate a question or solve a problem, including evaluating the quality of the data collected, and identify improvements to the method

  Elaborations

  • identifying and considering indicators of the quality of the data when analysing results
  • discussing investigation methods with others to share ideas about the quality of the inquiry processes used
  • suggesting improvements to investigation methods that would improve the accuracy of the data recorded

  VCSIS112 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Inquiry Skills | Analysing and evaluating

• VCSIS085

  Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to record, represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data

  Elaborations

  • using familiar units such as grams, seconds and metres and developing the use of standard multipliers such as kilometres and millimetres
  • using digital technologies to record data as digital images or in spreadsheets and to present data in tables and simple graphs
  • using digital technologies to construct representations, including dynamic representations

  VCSIS085 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Inquiry Skills | Recording and processing

• VCSIS069

  Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends

  Elaborations

  • using provided tables to organise materials and objects based on observable properties
  • discussing with teacher guidance which graphic organisers will be most useful in sorting or organising data arising from investigations
  • discussing how to graph data presented in a table
  • identifying and discussing numerical and visual patterns in data collected from students' investigations and from other sources

  VCSIS069 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | 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

• VCSIS108

  Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed

  Elaborations

  • identifying whether the use of their own observations and experiments or the use of other research materials is appropriate for their investigation
  • using simulations and identifying their strengths and limitations
  • developing strategies and techniques for effective research using secondary sources, including use of the internet

  VCSIS108 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Inquiry Skills | Planning and conducting

• VCSIS066

  Suggest ways to plan and conduct investigations to find answers to questions including consideration of the elements of fair tests

  Elaborations

  • working in groups, with teacher guidance, to plan ways to investigate questions and evaluating which ways might be most successful
  • exploring, with teacher guidance, different ways to conduct investigations and connecting these to the types of questions asked

  VCSIS066 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Inquiry Skills | Planning and conducting

• 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

• 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

• VCSSU095

  Mixtures, including solutions, contain a combination of pure substances that can be separated using a range of techniques

  Elaborations

  • recognising the differences between pure substances and mixtures and identifying examples of each
  • identifying the solvent and solute in solutions
  • investigating and using a range of physical separation techniques such as filtration, decantation, evaporation, crystallisation, chromatography and distillation
  • exploring and comparing separation methods used in the home

  VCSSU095 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Chemical 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

• VCSIS138

  Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables, identifying inconsistencies in data and sources of uncertainty, and drawing conclusions that are consistent with evidence

  Elaborations

  • exploring relationships between variables using spreadsheets, databases, tables, charts, graphs and statistics
  • describing data properties (for example mean, median, range, outliers, large gaps visible on a graph) and their significance for a particular investigation sample, acknowledging uncertainties

  VCSIS138 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Inquiry Skills | Analysing and evaluating

• 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

• VCSIS135

  Independently plan, select and use appropriate investigation types, including fieldwork and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data, assess risk and address ethical issues associated with these investigation types

  Elaborations

  • explaining the choice of variables to be controlled, changed and measured in an investigation
  • identifying and managing potential hazards of chemicals or biological materials used in experimental investigations or fieldwork
  • deciding how much data are needed to obtain reliable measurements
  • using modelling and simulations, including using digital technologies, to investigate situations and events
  • using the internet to facilitate collaboration in joint projects and discussions

  VCSIS135 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Inquiry Skills | Planning and conducting

• 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