Australian Curriculum: Science
Day 1
Australian Curriculum
PURPOSE OF MODULES
• Develop capacity to lead change and support schools and network of schools with the implementation of Australian Curriculum: Science
• Teachers improve their confidence with teaching science content of the Australian Curriculum
• Day 1: everything
• Day 2: everything else
• ACTION LEARNING TASK: program & work samples
Australian Curriculum
SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS
• 62 Teacher Development Schools provide targeted support to schools and school networks
• The Institute for Professional learning plays a key role in brokering and co-ordinating support for teachers and administrators.
• Teachers have access to digital resources through the K-12 Resources website and Resources Online.
• 4 Day Leading Australian Curriculum modules for each learning area for curriculum leaders
• Train the Trainer for key curriculum leaders in regions
Australian Curriculum
SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS
• The Curriculum Support website provides schools with news, advice and practical resources to ensure teachers have up to date information throughout the implementation period, including:
• A series of PowerPoint presentations available – an overview and learning area specific
• Australian Curriculum Mapping Documents available on the Curriculum Support website.
• A set of Frequently Asked Questions
• Graphic overviews for Phase 1 Australian Curriculum
CHECK FOR CLARIFICATION
Australian Curriculum
AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM: SCIENCE AIMS, RATIONALE AND ORGANISATION
WHY SCIENCE?
JIGSAW
Form 6 groups to become an ‘expert’ on one aspect of the introduction to the science curriculum.
- Individually read section and note key messages
- Within your ‘expert’ group discuss the key messages
- Return to ‘home group’ and share key messages
DEBRIEF STRATEGY
Australian Curriculum
SHAPE OF THE CURRICULUM
Science has 3 interrelated strands: SIS, SHE, SU
Students are encouraged to explore science, its concepts, nature and uses through clearly described inquiry processes
Australian Curriculum
SCIENCE (ORGANISATION)
• Science Understanding across each of the science ‘disciplines’ is taught every year
• Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry Skills are taught over two years
• The sub-strands of Science Understanding are:
- Biological sciences - Chemical sciences - Earth and Space sciences
- Physical sciences.
Australian Curriculum
OVERARCHING IDEAS
• Patterns, order and organisation
• Form and function
• Stability and change
• Scale and measurement
• Matter and energy
• Systems
Australian Curriculum
• What is your understanding of the 5Es model?
•In small groups, share your experiences teaching Primary Connections using the 5Es model
PRIMARY CONNECTIONS PEDAGOGY
Australian Curriculum
OVERARCHING IDEAS
CONCEPT MAP
- 6 groups, with each group selecting an overarching idea
- Groups draw a concept map highlighting key aspects of their overarching idea
- Each group shares their concept map with whole group
Australian Curriculum
SCIENCE INQUIRY SKILLS
• The content in this strand is described over two years
• There are five sub-strands:
- Questioning and predicting
- Planning and conducting
- Processing and analysing data and information
- Evaluating
- Communicating
Australian Curriculum
SCIENCE AS A HUMAN ENDEAVOUR
Key messages
• The content in this strand is described over two years
• There are two sub-strands:
- Nature and development of science
- Use and influence of science
Australian Curriculum
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
In Phases of learning – Think, Pair, Share:
• Individually, write in your journals a response to:
- What concepts in Chemistry are critical for students to learn in your phase of learning?
• In pairs draw a graphic representation of Chemical Science
• Share your drawing with another pair in another phase of learning and explain the concepts you included.
Australian Curriculum
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
• Understanding the composition and behaviour of substances
Students will:
• Classify substances based on their properties or their composition
• Explore physical changes and investigate how chemical reactions result in the production of new substances
• Recognise that all substances consist of atoms and atoms can be rearranged
Australian Curriculum
Science Engagement
• Pick something – ANYTHING – and make it into a science engagement activity, eg.
• Piece of hair
• Rock
• Pencil in water
• Sun shadows
• A selection of leaves
• Your eyeball
Australian Curriculum
MORNING TEA
Australian Curriculum
SCIENCE UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT
• Progression of concepts from Foundation to Year 10
• Sequencing of the learning is appropriately ordered
• Curriculum focus across the phases are:
- Foundation – Year 2 – (awareness of self and the local world)
- Years 3 – 6 – (recognising questions that can be investigated scientifically and investigating them)
- Years 7 – 10 – ( explaining phenomena involving science and its applications)
Australian Curriculum
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
• What are the key concepts for Physical Science?
Revisit the content structure and identify the key messages in Physical science
Placemat
• Individually write in your section a response to the question
• In your group share your responses and then come to a consensus on the key concepts for Physical Science
• Share with the whole group – call out and write responses on whiteboard
DEBRIEF
Australian Curriculum
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Energy
Energy appears in different forms and can be transferred and transformed
Transfers and transformations within a system usually result in some energy (heat) escaping into surrounding environment
Law of Energy conservation
Forces
Pushes and pulls
Forces have size and direction
Australian Curriculum
TEACHING PHYSICAL SCIENCE
In pairs plan a sequence of learning activities:
• Select content descriptor for the year you are currently teaching
• Highlight key ideas in the statement
• Describe a sequence of 3 learning activities related to those key ideas using the items available
• Identify potential misconceptions and how will these be overcome
Australian Curriculum
KEY MESSAGES FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Interdependence Structure and Function
Evolution
? ? ?
Australian Curriculum
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Key ideas include:
• Systems in space
• Changes to Earth
5 Why Strategy
Why should Earth and Space Science be taught in primary school?
Australian Curriculum
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Brainstorm Investigative ideas
• In year groups brainstorm ideas that can be investigated for Earth and Space Science
• Write 5 investigative questions to address these ideas
Stray and Stay
• One group member stays to explain the ideas, while the rest of the group looks at all other group’s ideas
Australian Curriculum
Cross-curriculum planning
• Start thinking about how you can deliver science curriculum through your literacy and numeracy programs.
• Is it already being done? How?
• What kind of support do you need to develop your cross-curricular ideas/plans?
Australian Curriculum
Moderation for Day 2
• Bring a set of work samples for Science – below, satisfactory & above achievement standard.
• If you’re not yet using AC Science Achievement Standards, bring Curriculum Framework equivalent (B, C, D grades)
• Provide 3 copies of each for moderation
Australian Curriculum
LUNCH
Australian Curriculum
AFTER LUNCH
Networking
• Talk with people from other schools about how you deal with multi-age classes/assessment/planning/cross-curricular etc
• Start planning your cross-curricular links to English/Maths/History/ Art etc