Aims
The Australian Curriculum: Science aims to ensure that students develop:
- an interest in science as a way of expanding their curiosity and willingness to explore, ask questions about and speculate on the changing world they live in
- a solid foundation of knowledge of the biological, Earth and space, physical and chemical sciences, including being able to select and integrate scientific knowledge and practices to explain and predict phenomena and to apply understanding to new situations and events
- an understanding of scientific inquiry and the ability to use a range of scientific inquiry practices, including questioning; planning and conducting experiments and investigations based on ethical and interculturally aware principles; generating and analysing data; evaluating results; and drawing critical, evidence-based conclusions
- an ability to communicate scientific understanding and findings to a range of audiences, to justify claims with evidence, and to evaluate and debate scientific explanations and arguments
- an ability to solve problems and make informed decisions about current and future uses of science while taking into account ethical, environmental, social and economic implications of decisions
- an understanding of the dynamic nature of science knowledge including historical and global contributions, and an understanding of the relationship between science and society including the diversity of science careers.
Structure
The Australian Curriculum: Science is presented in year levels from Prep to Year 10.
Content is organised under 3 interrelated strands:
- Science Understanding
- Science as a Human Endeavour
- Science Inquiry
Further information can be found at the Australian Curriculum website.
Science – Understanding This Learning Area: Click Here
Experiences
Prep
Students learn how science works through exploration and observation, building wonder and curiosity by observing everyday objects.
Year 1 & 2
Students learn to investigate by observing and exploring the world around them and by posing and answering questions. They learn to organise their observations, look for patterns and make predictions about their world.
Year 3 & 4
Students develop their understanding about how science relates to their lives. They pose and answer questions and investigate in a more systematic way. They develop understanding of fair testing in order to explore relationships between system components.
Year 5 & 6
Students look for patterns and relationships. They recognise the important role of variables in investigations. They develop explanations based on evidence.