Prep to Year 7 Collection of work (Written) Children/students communicate their observations, ideas and/or research during or following each lesson. The teacher provides ongoing feedback. Entries (appropriate to each phase) include: observation records from guided investigations reflection about learning one-to-one conferencing verbal reporting to the group on their own and others’ thinking class or group discussion about ideas concept maps flowcharts labelled diagrams research graphs and tables written explanations. Throughout the term Teachers gather evidence to make judgments about the following characteristics of student work: Prep Understanding description and identification of everyday objects using scientific knowledge use of scientific knowledge to explain a situation Skills response to questions about familiar objects make observations communication and representation of observations and ideas Year 1 and Year 2 Understanding description and identification of interactions with everyday objects using scientific knowledge use of scientific knowledge to explain a situation
Year 6 to Year 7 Experimental investigation: Model design and explanation (Multimodal) Under the guidance of the teacher, students gather observations and data from investigations throughout the term that can be used to inform the design of an energy-efficient home. Students select a national or international location where an energy-efficient home is to be built. During the term they collect data from investigations to give them the knowledge to design the home to be energy efficient by taking into account the: the source of electricity for the home the aspect of the home, the use of gardens, insulation, window tinting and window coverings to manage heat. Students present a labelled and annotated set of house plans that justify the decisions made about the sources of electricity and the methods used to manage heat in the home. Written explanations about the method chosen to manage heat are based on the science of the movement of heat and analysis of data from investigations conducted during the term. Students construct a simple two room house model that is wired in parallel with two working light bulbs. They plan a simple test to investigate the generation of electricity for the bulbs using batteries and a combination of batteries (night) and solar panels (day). They present their conclusions in a scientific report. Year 5 and Year 6 Understanding description and identification of scientific information and concepts use of science knowledge to generate solutions and explanations description of the use of science knowledge to make decisions Skills development of questions for investigation, making plausible predictions about findings identification of variables, description of potential safety risks, and safe measurement and recording of data description of patterns and relationships in data, suggesting explanations and making comparisons with predictions identification and description of ways to improve the fairness of methods communication of ideas, methods and findings Year 7 Understanding description and identification of scientific facts, ideas, concepts, and phenomena use of science knowledge to generate solutions and explanations description of the application of science knowledge to solve a real-world problem