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Result list

• 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

• 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

• VCSSU128

  Global systems, including the carbon cycle, rely on interactions involving the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere

  Elaborations

  • modelling a nutrient cycle within the biosphere, for example, the carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus cycle
  • investigating how human activity affects global systems
  • distinguishing between 'natural' and 'enhanced' greenhouse effects
  • investigating the effect of climate change on sea levels and biodiversity

  VCSSU128 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU126

  Chemical reactions, including combustion and the reactions of acids, are important in both non-living and living systems and involve energy transfer

  Elaborations

  • investigating a range of different reactions to classify them as exothermic or endothermic
  • comparing respiration and photosynthesis and their role in biological processes
  • investigating reactions of acids with metals, bases, and carbonates

  VCSSU126 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Chemical sciences

• VCSSU074

  Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment

  Elaborations

  • explaining how particular adaptations aid survival, for example, nocturnal behaviour, silvery coloured leaves of dune plants
  • describing and listing adaptations of living things suited for particular Australian environments

  VCSSU074 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• VCSSU057

  Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things

  Elaborations

  • exploring differences between living, once living and products of living things
  • identifying variations in the features of plants, for example, colour and shape of leaves, or types of flowers
  • identifying variations in the features of animals, for example, body covering, ear shapes or number of legs

  VCSSU057 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• VCSSU121

  Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems

  Elaborations

  • exploring interactions between organisms, for example, predator/prey, parasites, competitors, pollinators and disease vectors
  • using modelling to examine factors that affect population sizes, for example, seasonal changes, destruction of habitats, introduced species
  • investigating how ecosystems change as a result of environmental change, for example, bushfires, drought and flooding

  VCSSU121 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• VCSSU098

  Chemical change involves substances reacting to form new substances

  Elaborations

  • identifying the differences between chemical and physical changes
  • identifying evidence that a chemical change has taken place
  • investigating simple reactions, for example, combining elements to make a compound

  VCSSU098 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Chemical sciences

• 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

• VCSSU048

  The way objects move depends on a variety of factors including their size and shape: a push or a pull affects how an object moves or changes shape

  Elaborations

  • observing the way different shaped objects move, such as balls, blocks and tubes
  • comparing the way different sized, but similar shaped, objects roll and bounce, such as tennis balls, golf balls, marbles and basketballs
  • observing how the movement of different living things depends on their size and shape
  • exploring how different strengths of pushes and pulls affect the movement of objects
  • identifying toys from different cultures that use the forces of push or pull

  VCSSU048 | Science | Foundation to Level 2 | Science Understanding | Physical sciences

• VCSSU079

  Sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions can affect Earth’s surface

  Elaborations

  • investigating major geological events, for example, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis
  • recognising that earthquakes can cause tsunamis
  • considering the effect of drought on living and non-living aspects of the environment

  VCSSU079 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU004

  Changes in the world around us can affect responses

  Elaborations

  • making decisions about clothing, location and activity based on their reaction to, and changes in, the weather
  • demonstrating an awareness of the time of day by responding to activities associated with different times of the day, for example, eating lunch, getting dressed to go to school, packing bags to go home

  VCSSU004 | Science | Level A | Science Understanding | Earth and space sciences

• VCSSU094

  Multicellular organisms contain systems of organs that carry out specialised functions that enable them to survive and reproduce

  Elaborations

  • examining the specialised cells and tissues involved in structure and function of particular organs
  • describing the structure of each organ in a system and relating its function to the overall function of the system
  • identifying the organs and overall function of a system of a multicellular organism in supporting life processes
  • comparing reproductive systems of organisms
  • comparing similar systems in different organisms, for example, digestive systems in herbivores and carnivores, respiratory systems in fish and mammals

  VCSSU094 | Science | Levels 7 and 8 | Science Understanding | Biological 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

• 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

• 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

• VCSSU058

  Different living things have different life cycles and depend on each other and the environment to survive

  Elaborations

  • making and recording observations of living things as they develop through their life cycles, for example, insects, birds, frogs and flowering plants
  • recognising that environmental factors can affect life cycles, for example, fire and seed germination
  • investigating the roles of living things in a habitat, for example, producers, consumers or decomposers
  • predicting the effects when living things in feeding relationships are removed or die out in an area

  VCSSU058 | Science | Levels 3 and 4 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• VCSSU133

  The description and explanation of the motion of objects involves the interaction of forces and the exchange of energy and can be described and predicted using the laws of physics

  Elaborations

  • recognising that a stationary object, or a moving object with constant motion, has balanced forces acting on it
  • gathering data to analyse everyday motion produced by forces, for example, measurements of distance and time, velocity, mass, acceleration and force
  • investigating the effects of applying different forces, including Earth's gravitational force, to familiar objects

  VCSSU133 | Science | Levels 9 and 10 | Science Understanding | Physical sciences

• VCSSU075

  The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment

  Elaborations

  • observing the growth of fungi, for example, yeast and bread mould in different temperature conditions
  • investigating how changing the physical conditions for plants impacts on their growth and survival, for example, changing salt water concentrations, using fertilisers or transferring to a different soil type
  • researching organisms that live in extreme environments, for example, Antarctica, a desert or deep sea

  VCSSU075 | Science | Levels 5 and 6 | Science Understanding | Biological sciences

• VCSSU035

  The shape of objects will affect how they move

  Elaborations

  • investigating how the shape of an object affects how well it can roll or slide
  • investigating how the shape of a helicopter blade affects how long a model paper helicopter can stay in the air

  VCSSU035 | Science | Level D | Science Understanding | Physical sciences