Science v8.

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Year 5 Syllabus
Year Level Description

The science inquiry skills and science as a human endeavour strands are described
across a two-year band. In their planning, schools and teachers refer to the expectations
outlined in the achievement standard and also to the content of the science understanding
strand for the relevant year level to ensure that these two strands are addressed over the
two-year period. The three strands of the curriculum are interrelated and their content is
taught in an integrated way. The order and detail in which the content descriptions are
organised into teaching and learning programs are decisions to be made by the teacher.

Incorporating the key ideas of science

Over Years 3 to 6, students develop their understanding of a range of systems operating at

different time and geographic scales.

In Year 5, students are introduced to cause and effect relationships through an exploration
of adaptations of living things and how this links to form and function. They explore
observable phenomena associated with light and begin to appreciate that phenomena
have sets of characteristic behaviours. They broaden their classification of matter to
include gases and begin to see how matter structures the world around them. Students
consider Earth as a component within a solar system and use models for investigating
systems at astronomical scales. Students begin to identify stable and dynamic aspects of
systems, and learn how to look for patterns and relationships between components of
systems. They develop explanations for the patterns they observe.
 Science Understanding
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Living things have
structural features and
adaptations that help
them to survive in their
environment
(ACSSU043)

CHEMICAL SCIENCES
Solids, liquids and gases
have different
observable properties
and behave in different
ways (ACSSU077)

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES

The Earth is part of a
system of planets
orbiting around a star
(the sun) (ACSSU078)

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Light from a source
forms shadows and can
be absorbed, reflected
and refracted
(ACSSU080)
 Science as a Human Endeavour
NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE
Science involves testing
predictions by gathering
data and using evidence
to develop explanations
of events and
phenomena and reflects
historical and cultural
contributions
(ACSHE081)

Numeracy

USE AND INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE

Scientific knowledge is
used to solve problems
and inform personal and
community decisions
(ACSHE083)

Personal and social

capability
Ethical understanding

Science Inquiry Skills

QUESTIONING AND PREDICTING
With guidance, pose
clarifying questions and
make predictions about
scientific investigations
(ACSIS231)

Literacy
Critical and creative
thinking

PLANNING AND CONDUCTING

Identify, plan and apply Decide variables to be
the elements of scientific changed and measured
investigations to answer in fair tests, and observe
questions and solve measure and record data
problems using with accuracy using
equipment and materials digital technologies as
safely and identifying appropriate (ACSIS087)
potential risks
(ACSIS086)
Literacy
Numeracy
Literacy Information and
Critical and creative Communication
thinking Technology (ICT)
capability
Critical and creative
thinking

PROCESSING AND ANALYSING DATA AND INFORMATION

Construct and use a range of Compare data with predictions and
representations, including tables and use as evidence in developing
graphs, to represent and describe
observations, patterns or relationships explanations (ACSIS218)
in data using digital technologies as
appropriate (ACSIS090)
Literacy
Numeracy
Literacy Critical and creative thinking
Numeracy
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) capability
Critical and creative thinking

EVALUATING
Reflect on and suggest
improvements to
scientific investigations
(ACSIS091)

Critical and creative

thinking

COMMUNICATING
Communicate ideas, explanations and
processes using scientific representations
in a variety of ways, including multi-modal
texts (ACSIS093)

Literacy
Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) capability

Year 5 Achievement Standard

Science Understanding
At Standard, students classify solids, liquids and gases according to their observable
properties and behaviours. They describe everyday phenomena associated with the
transfer of light. Students describe the key features of our solar system. They analyse how
the features of living things enables them to function in their environments.
Science as a Human Endeavour
Students discuss how scientific developments have affected people’s lives, help us solve
problems and how science knowledge develops from many people’s contributions.
Science Inquiry Skills
Students follow instructions to pose questions for investigation and predict the effect of
changing variables when planning an investigation. They use equipment in ways that are
safe and improve the accuracy of their observations. Students construct tables and graphs
to organise data and identify patterns in the data. They compare patterns in their data with
predictions when suggesting explanations. Students describe ways to improve the fairness
of their investigations, and communicate their ideas and findings.