Overview

In this learning sequence  students investigate non-renewable and renewable resources produced and used in Australia and around the world. Students explore how the Earth’s systems, the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere, are interconnected and how they interact. Students also consider how human activities impact on these systems. Students distinguish between natural and made or synthetic resources and investigate how they are sourced, produced and used. By focusing on waste management, students explore how natural and synthetic resources can be used sustainably into the future. 

In these lessons students will have opportunities to conduct a number of simple experiments involving non-renewable resources, packaging and plastic. Students will also engage in data analysis using infographics, graphs and tables.

Students are learning to:   

• describe the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources and give examples of each 

• analyse secondary data on renewable and non-renewable resources using graphs and tables 

• model the use of natural resources to distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources 

• describe the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere and explain how these Earth spheres are constantly changing and interact 

• describe how human activities impact on the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere 

• distinguish between natural and made or synthetic materials 

• describe traditional sustainable practices used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 

• distinguish between upcycling, recycling, downcycling and repurposing  

• investigate methods of recycling, conduct a recycling audit and describe innovative ways of reducing waste  

• safely conduct first-hand investigations involving packaging and plastic. 

 Outcomes  

• SC4-1VA  appreciates the importance of science in their lives and the role of scientific inquiry in increasing understanding of the world around them  

• SC4-4WS identifies questions and problems that can be tested or researched and makes predictions based on scientific knowledge  

• SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems  

• SC4-6WS  follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types, collaboratively and individually

• SC4-7WS   processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions 

• SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language, text types and representations

• SC4-12ES describes the dynamic nature of models, theories and laws in developing scientific understanding of the Earth and solar system

• SC4-13ES explains how advances in scientific understanding of processes that occur within and on the Earth, influence the choices people make about resource use and management

Students will:

• define renewable and non-renewable resources 

• describe examples of renewable and non-renewable resources 

• explain the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources 

• describe world consumption of renewable and non-renewable resources using secondary data 

• analyse secondary data on non-renewable resources.

Outcomes:

• SC4-4WS identifies questions and problems that can be tested or researched and makes predictions based on scientific knowledge  

• SC4-7WS   processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions  

• ES3 Scientific knowledge influences the choices people make in regard to the use and management of the Earth's resources. 

• ES3a Students classify a range of the Earth's resources as renewable or non-renewable 

• ES3b Students outline features of some non-renewable resources, including metal ores and fossil fuels

Students will:

• describe the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere 

• explain how these Earth spheres are constantly changing and interact 

• describe how human activities impact on the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere 

• distinguish between natural and made or synthetic materials.

Outcomes:

• SC4-4WS identifies questions and problems that can be tested or researched and makes predictions based on scientific knowledge

• SC4-7WS   processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions  

• SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language, text types and representations  

• ES3 Scientific knowledge influences the choices people make in regard to the use and management of the Earth's resources. 

• ES3c Students describe uses of a variety of natural and made resources extracted from the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere

Students will:

• describe traditional sustainable practices used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

• distinguish between upcycling, recycling, downcycling and repurposing

• investigate methods of recycling and conduct a recycling audit

• conduct a first-hand investigation into product packaging

• describe innovative ways of reducing waste.

Outcomes:

• SC4-4WS identifies questions and problems that can be tested or researched and makes predictions based on scientific knowledge  

• SC4-6WS  follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types, collaboratively and individually  

• SC4-7WS   processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions  

• SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language, text types and representations  

• ES3 Scientific knowledge influences the choices people make in regard to the use and management of the Earth's resources. 

• ES3d Students investigate some strategies used by people to conserve and manage non-renewable resources, eg recycling and the alternative use of natural and made resources

• ES3f Students outline the choices that need to be made when considering whether to use scientific and technological advances to obtain a resource from Earth's spheres