Science

Content Strands

• Science Understanding
• Science Inquiry Skills

Learning Focus

1. Science Understanding

The key concepts developed within these sub-strands are:

Science as a human endeavour

• Students will acquire an appreciation of the unique nature of science and scientific knowledge, including how current knowledge has developed over time through the actions of many people.
• Student will learn how science knowledge and applications affect peoples’ lives, including their work, and how science is influenced by society and can be used to inform decisions and actions.

Biological sciences

• Multicellular organisms rely on coordinated and interdependent internal systems to respond to changes to their environment cells are the basic units of living things and have specialised structures and functions 
• An animal’s response to a stimulus is coordinated by its central nervous system (brain and spinal cord); neurons transmit electrical impulses and are connected by synapses
• Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems

Chemical sciences

• All matter is made of atoms which are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons; natural radioactivity arises from the decay of nuclei in atoms
• The atomic structure and properties of elements are used to organise them in the periodic table

Earth and space sciences

• The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental movement Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable 
• Global systems, including the carbon cycle, rely on interactions involving the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere

Physical sciences

• Electric circuits can be designed for diverse purposes using different components; the operation of circuits can be explained by the concepts of voltage and current
• The interaction of magnets can be explained by a field model; magnets are used in the generation of electricity and the operation of motors
• Energy flow in Earth’s atmosphere can be explained by the processes of heat transfer

2. Science Inquiry Skills

There are five sub-strands of Science Inquiry Skills.

Questioning and predicting

Students will become proficient in identifying and constructing questions, proposing hypotheses and suggesting possible outcomes.

Planning and conducting

Students will learn to make decisions regarding how to investigate or solve a problem and carrying out an investigation, including the collection of data.

Recording and processing

Students will record and represent data in meaningful and useful ways.

Analysing and evaluating

Students will consider the quality of available evidence and the merit or significance of a claim, proposition or conclusion and identify trends, patterns and relationships in data, with reference to the evidence.

Communicating

Students will convey information or ideas to others through appropriate representations, text types and modes.