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In Levels 7 and 8, the curriculum focus is on explaining phenomena involving science and its applications.
Cells are the basic units of living things and have specialised structures and functions. Learn about how cells operate, what they are made of and how to see them.
Learn about microscopes. The different types, how to use them and what you can see with them.
Distinguishing between plant, animal and fungal cells. Identifying structures within cells and describing their function.
Not all cells are created equal. Learn about the differences between cells, cell division and some of the specialised cells in animals & plants.
Multicellular organisms contain systems of organs that carry out specialised functions that enable them to survive and reproduce
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
Grouping a variety of organisms on the basis of similarities and differences in particular features
Classifying using hierarchical systems, for example, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
Using scientific conventions for naming species
Using provided keys to identify organisms surveyed in a local habitat
Investigating classification systems used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and how they differ with respect to approach and purpose from those used by contemporary scienc
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
Investigating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ responses to the disruptive interactions of invasive species and their effect on important food webs that many communities are a part of, and depend on, for produce and medicine
Mixtures, including solutions, contain a combination of pure substances that can be separated using a range of techniques
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.
Investigating separation techniques used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, such as hand picking, sieving, winnowing, yandying, filtering, cold-pressing and steam distilling
The properties of the different states of matter can be explained in terms of the motion and arrangement of particles
Modelling the arrangement of particles in solids, liquids and gases.
Using the particle model to distinguish between the properties of liquid water, ice and steam.
Differences between elements, compounds and mixtures can be described by using a particle model.
Modelling the arrangement of particles in elements and compounds
Recognising that elements and simple compounds can be represented by symbols and formulas
Explaining why elements and compounds can be represented by chemical formulas while mixtures cannot
Chemical change involves substances reacting to form new substances
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
Comparing times for the rotation of Earth, Sun and Moon, and comparing the times for the orbits of Earth and the Moon
Modelling the relative movements of the Earth, Sun and Moon and how natural phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses and phases of the Moon occur
Explaining why different regions of Earth experience different seasonal conditions
Researching knowledges held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples regarding the phases of the moon and the connection between the lunar cycle and ocean tides
Researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ oral traditions and cultural recordings of solar and lunar eclipses and investigating similarities and differences with contemporary understandings of such phenomena
Investigating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ calendars and how they are used to predict seasonal changes
Considering what is meant by the term ‘renewable’ in relation to the Earth’s resources
Considering timescales for regeneration of resources
Comparing renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including how they are used in a range of situations.
How we use resources
How can we manage our resources
Exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ connections with, and valuing of, water and water resource management
Explain the states of water
Considering the water cycle in terms of changes of state of water
Investigating factors that influence the water cycle in nature
Exploring how human management of water impacts on the water cycle
Exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ connections with, and valuing of, water and water resource management
Recognising that rocks are a collection of different minerals
Considering the role of forces and energy in the formation of different types of rocks and minerals
Identifying a range of common rock types using keys based on observable physical and chemical properties
Investigating the effects of applying different forces to familiar objects.
Investigating common situations where forces are balanced and unbalanced, for example, stationary and falling objects
– Contact & non-contact forces.
– Measuring forces.
– Magnetic & electrostatic forces.
– Friction.
Investigating a simple machine such as a lever or a pulley system
Exploring how gravity affects objects on the surface of Earth
Investigating the effect of forces through the application of simple machines, such as the bow and arrows used by Torres Strait Islander Peoples or the spear throwers used by Aboriginal Peoples
Recognising that kinetic energy is the energy possessed by moving bodies
Recognising that potential energy is stored energy, for example, gravitational, chemical and elastic energy
Using flow diagrams to illustrate changes between different forms of energy
Investigating the energy transformations in devices, for example, a catapult or a water wheel
Exploring how images can change when the arrangement of the mirror or lens system is altered
Exploring the mechanism of the human eye and corrective technologies
Observing the spread and order of colours in the visible spectrum
Describing the different types of radiation in the larger spectrum of radiation
Describing how sounds are produced by different musical instruments
Measuring the speed of sound
Using a wave model to describe the measured properties of sound, wavelength and frequency
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