use digital, visual, written or oral forms of communication as appropriate Role of observations Students: communicate observations in a variety of ways apply conventions when collecting and recording observations Observation as evidence Students: demonstrate safe practices when participating in an investigation Additional activities Conduct experiments to investigate temperature perception and how our sense of touch can be informed by our other senses. Draw conclusions about how our senses work together to give us information. Home Science Tools: Test Your Sense of Touch Three glasses of water Stopwatch or clock KidsHealth: Experiments to Try – Box Pillowcase, sock and range of objects such as tennis ball, rubber ball, baseball, cricket ball Working scientifically Students: make predictions based on questions that can be scientifically tested participate in making decisions about how to test questions or hypotheses work individually and/or collaboratively to design a scientific investigation to test a question or hypothesis recognise variables to be measured, changed and maintained in an investigation identify ways to change and measure variables in an investigation follow a plan to participate in an investigation How does my body react to stimuli? What would happen if we placed our hand on a hot stove? What about if a ball is thrown at us or the wind blows some dirt into our eyes? Explain to students the reactions our body makes in these instances are known as ‘reflexes’. These are movements we make involuntarily in response to stimulus, such as the heat on the stove. We are not telling our hand to move, it is a reflex action that occurs. Taking into account students’ needs and capabilities, explore a range of reflexes, using the Neuroscience For Kids website. Students observe how quickly a reflex occurs. Investigation: Reaction time Explain to students that reactions are different from reflexes because they are voluntary. That is, our brain sends a message that our body is to react in some way. Neuroscience for Kids – Reflexes Home Science – Reaction time
Observations as evidence Students: recognise the role of variables in a scientific investigation identify variables to be measured, changed or maintained in a scientific investigation investigate how variables in a scientific investigation can be maintained Conclusions promote further investigations Students: pose questions for testing that lead to further investigations Working scientifically Students: make observations and pose questions based on these observations make predictions based on questions that can be scientifically tested recognise the need to plan an investigation to test questions or hypotheses participate in making decisions about how to test questions or hypotheses select appropriate scientific equipment and materials that can be used to test a question or hypothesis work individually and/or collaboratively to design a scientific investigation to test a question or hypothesis How does my body react to physical activity? Review students’ understanding of the purpose and function of the A video such as How to Feel Your Heart Beat may assist students’ understanding of how the heart works. Investigation: Heart rate Pose the question, ‘What effect does exercise have on our heart rate?’ Taking into consideration students’ needs and abilities, students work in pairs to record their resting heart rate, their heart rate after physical activity and how long it takes the heart rate to return to resting level. What conclusions can be drawn about the effects of exercise on heart rate? Students follow the process of Predict, Observe, Record and Compare to investigate which type of physical activity has the greatest effect on our heart rate. Physical activities can be selected according to the needs and abilities of students and could include: How to Feel Your Beat Science Sparks – Heart Rate Investigation Stopwatch