Prep Year Science standard elaborations Applying (AP) Making connections (MC) Working with (WW) Exploring (EX) Becoming aware (BA) The folio of a child’s work has the following characteristics: Science understanding; Science as a human endeavour clear and informed description of the properties and behaviour of familiar objects clear and informed suggestions of how the environment affects people and other living things informed description of the properties and behaviour of familiar objects informed suggestions of how the environment affects people and other living things description of the properties and behaviour of familiar objects suggestions of how the environment affects people and other living things guided description of the properties and behaviour of familiar objects guided suggestions of how the environment affects people and other living things statements about: the properties and behaviour of familiar objects how the environment affects people and other living things Science inquiry skills asking of and responding to questions about familiar objects and events reflection on and sharing of observations, and clear representation of ideas asking of and responding to questions about familiar objects and events reflection on and sharing of observations, and representation of ideas asking of and responding to questions about familiar objects and events reflection on and sharing of observations guided asking of and responding to questions about familiar objects and events guided reflection and fragmented sharing of observations directed asking of and responding to questions about familiar objects and events directed reflection and sharing of observations Shading emphasises the qualities that discriminate between the AP–BA descriptors.
Notes Australian Curriculum common dimensions The SEs describe the qualities of achievement in the two dimensions common to all Australian Curriculum learning area achievement standards: understanding skills. Dimension Description understanding The concepts underpinning and connecting knowledge in a learning area, related to a student’s ability to appropriately select and apply knowledge to solve problems in that learning area skills The specific techniques, strategies and processes in a learning area Terms used in Prep Year Science standard elaborations The following terms and key words are used in the Prep Year Science SEs. They help to clarify the descriptors and should be used in conjunction with the ACARA’s Australian Curriculum Science glossary . Term Description clear; clearly easy to perceive, understand, or interpret communicating (sub-strand) conveying information or ideas to others through appropriate representations, text types and modes description; descriptive; describe* give an account of characteristics or features direction; directed following the instructions of the facilitator fragmented disjointed, incomplete or isolated guided visual and/or verbal prompts to facilitate or support independent action informed having relevant knowledge; being conversant with the topic; in the context of Science, informed means referring to scientific background knowledge and/or empirical observations planning and conducting (sub-strand)* making decisions regarding how to investigate or solve a problem and carrying out an investigation, including the collection of data; In Prep, this includes: participating in guided investigations making observations using the senses. processing and analysing data and information (sub-strand)* representing data in meaningful and useful ways; identifying trends, patterns and relationships in data, and using this evidence to justify conclusions; in Prep, this includes: engaging in discussions about observations representing ideas.