AIM:
Science Understanding
Science as a human endeavour
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 (VCSSU089)
Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (VCSSU090)
Biological sciences
There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity (VCSSU091)
Cells are the basic units of living things and have specialised structures and functions (VCSSU092)
Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs and can be affected by human activity (VCSSU093)
Multicellular organisms contain systems of organs that carry out specialised functions that enable them to survive and reproduce (VCSSU094)
Chemical sciences
Mixtures, including solutions, contain a combination of pure substances that can be separated using a range of techniques (VCSSU095)
The properties of the different states of matter can be explained in terms of the motion and arrangement of particles (VCSSU096)
Differences between elements, compounds and mixtures can be described by using a particle model (VCSSU097)
Chemical change involves substances reacting to form new substances (VCSSU098)
Earth and space sciences
Predictable phenomena on Earth, including seasons and eclipses, are caused by the relative positions of the Sun, Earth and the Moon (VCSSU099)
Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (VCSSU100)
Water is an important resource that cycles through the environment (VCSSU101)
Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain minerals and are formed by processes that occur within Earth over a variety of timescales (VCSSU102)
Physical sciences
Change to an object’s motion is caused by unbalanced forces acting on the object; Earth’s gravity pulls objects towards the centre of Earth (VCSSU103)
Energy appears in different forms including movement (kinetic energy), heat, light, chemical energy and potential energy; devices can change energy from one form to another (VCSSU104)
Light can form images using the reflective feature of curved mirrors and the refractive feature of lenses, and can disperse to produce a spectrum which is part of a larger spectrum of radiation (VCSSU105)
The properties of sound can be explained by a wave model (VCSSU106)
STRUCTURE: Year 7 Science consists of 2 lessons per week. Lessons will be a combination of theory and practical based activities.
Each unit will be broken down into the 5E’s to ensure that knowledge is built on.
ENGAGE – Introduction to the unit of work and acknowledge prior learning
EXPLORE – Explore the overarching question and break it down into leading questions
EXPLAIN – Investigate the leading questions of the overarching question through mini lessons and research tasks
ELABORATE – Use knowledge learnt and apply it to the design thinking cycle to create a solution to the overarching question
EVALUATE – Present solutions, reflect on work and use rubric to self-assess work
ASSESSMENT
Students will be assessed against a Rubric which will enable students to monitor their learning and set goals. The rubric will be linked to skills and knowledge taught during class and students will be assessed as emerging, working towards standard, at standard, above standard.