Science and Technology – 2024 and 2017 Syllabuses
Students become scientists for the day on a visit to the Royal National Park, exploring the living world. They examine structural features and adaptations of native plants and animals and investigate the physical conditions of at least one environment.
Learning Experiences
Students:
- examine relevant preserved animals and discuss their adaptations for survival
- find and observe animals relevant to the ecosystem visited, e.g., birdwatching, dipnetting, crab searching, finding invertebrates in a leaf litter survey
- describe the local environment and its physical conditions
- learn about plant adaptations on a bushwalk
- complete scratch art illustrating a plant adaptation
- measure and record physical conditions using scientific equipment
Recommended excursion sites
Please note: there are no toilet facilities at Bola Creek and Wallumarra Track, and toilets are 1km from the field site at Bonnie Vale; please discuss with the EEC if you require a site with better access to facilities.
Bonnie Vale (mangroves)
Bola Creek (rainforest)
Wallumarra Track (a longer one-way walk that includes a cross-section of various ecosystems; 5 hours minimum required)
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)
Living world
Outcomes
A student:
- plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST3-1WS-S
- examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-4LW-S
Content
Growth and survival of living things
Students:
- describe how changing physical conditions in the environment affect the growth and survival of living things, for example:
- Aboriginal Peoples’ use of fire-stick farming
- temperature of water in aquatic environments
- Adaptations of living things
Students:
- describe adaptations as existing structures or behaviours that enable living things to survive in their environment (ACSSU043) SciT
- describe the structural and/or behavioural features of some native Australian animals and plants and why they are considered to be adaptations, for example: ComT SciT
- shiny surfaces of leaves on desert plants
- rearward facing pouch of a burrowing wombat
- spines on an echidna
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)
Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions
Outcomes
- uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices ST3-SCI-01
- poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data ST3-PQU-01
Content
Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments
- Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments
- Examine and explain how the characteristics of flowers, fruit and seeds are adaptations for reproduction in plants
- Describe how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sustainable practices continue to protect the environment