Science and Technology - Earth and Space
Supports the Primary Connections unit - Beneath our feet
Students walk across an ancient landscape to observe evidence of weathering and erosion with a backdrop of stunning coastal views and cliffs. They participate in hands-on activities at Wattamolla and along a bushwalk on the loop track around Providential Headland and a walk to clifftops looking south over Curracurrang.
Key syllabus outcomes
A student:
- questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations ST2-1WS-S
- investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth’s surface ST2-10ES-S
Skills focus – working scientifically
Processing and analysing data
- use a range of methods to represent data, including tables and column graphs
- compare results with predictions
Communicating
- represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings, using formal and informal representations (ACSIS060, ACSIS071)
Inquiry questions
- How do natural processes and human actions change the Earth’s surface over time?
- What occurs as a result of the interactions between the Earth and the Sun?
Content
How the Earth’s surface changes over time
Students:
- investigate why the Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity, for example: (ACSSU075) SciT
- characteristics of soils
- identify evidence of natural changes in landforms, rocks or fossils
- identify that scientific knowledge helps people understand the effect of their actions, for example: (ACSHE051, ACSHE062) SciT
- investigate how erosion is caused by human activity, eg walking on bush trails
- investigate how erosion can be minimised, eg constructing boardwalks
Earth’s relationship with the Sun
Students:
- investigate how changes in the environment are used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to develop seasonal calendars SciT SysT
Learning Experiences
Students:
- observe examples of erosion and weathering
- walk on new raised boardwalks to investigate methods to minimise erosion and compare to old eroded track
- model weathering of sandstone
- observe preserved animals to consider their impact on erosion, including the invasive deer
- consider Dharawal seasons and observe indicator plants on the bushwalk
- use ochres found on the bushwalk to paint
- listen to a Dreaming story about formation of landscape
- use scientific equipment to measure and record conditions throughout the day, such as temperature and wind speed
- classify rocks and minerals
- create ephemeral art using rocks
Recommended excursion site
- Wattamolla (loop track around Providential Headland and walk to clifftops looking south over Curracurrang)