Science / Year 9 / Science as a Human Endeavour / Nature and development of science

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Curriculum content descriptions

Scientific understanding, including models and theories, is contestable and is refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community (ACSHE157)

Elaborations
  • investigating the historical development of models of the structure of the atom
  • investigating how the theory of plate tectonics developed, based on evidence from sea-floor spreading and occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic activity
  • considering how ideas about disease transmission have changed from medieval time to the present as knowledge has developed
  • investigating the work of scientists such as Ernest Rutherford, Pierre Curie and Marie Curie on radioactivity and subatomic particles
  • investigating how models can be used to predict the changes in populations due to environmental changes, such as the impact of flooding or fire on rabbit or kangaroo populations
General capabilities
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Evaluation,  Theories,  Paradigms,  Dissent,  Peer review

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20 direct matches to ACSHE157

Video

Earthshine

  • TLF-IDM016472

This six and a half minute video segment from Catalyst explains Earthshine as light from our own Earth reflected back from the Moon's dark side. A PhD student is studying it to learn about how light reflects from a planet that contains liquid water as well as land. Her work may one day lead to the discovery of other planets ...

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Audio

Green glow of radiation

  • TLF-IDM016565

Coming into contact with a large dose of radiation is known to be hazardous. But will it make you light up like a car dashboard at night? Some anecdotes that will engage the students to learn about radioactivity while dispelling a few myths.

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Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Tim Entwistle

  • TLF-IDM016773

An interview and tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney and its herbarium with Dr Tim Entwistle, a plant scientist and the NSW Government Botanist. Tim talks to a pre-service teacher from Macquarie University about his love of plants, in particular freshwater algae. In the herbarium we find out why it is so important ...

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Video

Dr Ove Goegh-Guldberg

  • TLF-IDM016629

This 5 minute video segment from Catalyst highlights the vulnerability of some of our ecosystems and the way abiotic factors can have a dramatic effect. It also exemplifies the difficult process of having new scientific ideas accepted.

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Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

  • TLF-IDM020885

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

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Interactive

Tectonic boundaries

  • TLF-IDL5830

Apply different tectonic forces to plate boundaries. Compare the effects when plates collide, separate, or slide past each other. Investigate the causes of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. Investigate important boundary sites, for example the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Andes, the San Andreas Fault, the Himalayas, and the ...

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Interactive

Light sound action: student digital

  • TLF-IDM019066

This is a student digital resource that contains interactive materials relevant to a study of light, sound, and electricity. This resource contains a rich array of digital interactive activities, simulations, video clips, supportive information and notebook questions, and is divided into several parts including sections ...

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Video

Argo floats

  • TLF-IDM016590

This minute video segment from Catalyst decade ago describes the Australian initiative, Argo, that has become a major international collaborative project to look at the world's oceans and help understand processes at depth - monitoring the pulse of the global heat balance and giving us vital information on the ocean's role ...

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Video

Complex pain

  • TLF-IDM016749

This 15 minute video segment from Catalyst describes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, condition where pain never goes away after an injury and even gets worse. The pain becomes a disease in its own right.

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Video

Stem Cells Repair

  • TLF-IDM016266

This 11 minute video segment from Catalyst is a case study of research in the use of stem cells. It demonstrates the structure of the knee joint and the role of bones and cartilage. Stem cells from bone marrow are collected and used in attempt to prevent the onset of arthritis. This program distinguishes embryonic from ...

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Audio

CERN legend stuff of angels and demons

  • TLF-IDM016702

This ABC article or podcast by Dr Karl describes and outlines the role of the particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider and how it is helping to research the nature of mass. This article is dated (2008) as some significant results from the Large Hadron Collider have since been announced.

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Video

Stems Cells in the Brain

  • TLF-IDM016154

This seven and a half minute video segment from Catalyst outlines how the discovery of stem cells in the brain marks a potential breakthrough in understanding the process of ageing in the brain. If brain stem cells can be regenerated through exercise or mental activity, can ageing be delayed?

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Video

Future of the moon

  • TLF-IDM016159

This 4 minute video segment from Catalyst describes how Moon rocks may hold clues about the beginnings of life on Earth because of the lack of weathering and erosion.

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Video

Too cold for cane toads

  • TLF-IDM016198

A new study reported in this video segment has looked at how temperatures impact cane toad movement and has aided in the development of a model that indicates that their geographical spread is limited. An excellent example of the use of mathematical modelling in scientific research and how scientists have tried to address ...

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Video

Eco Farming

  • TLF-IDM016561

This six and a half minute video segment from Catalyst provides an example of a new strategy to balance human activities and needs with the maintenance of a quality and sustainable environment. Viewers will discover how EcoTender, a land management scheme being trialled by the Victorian Government, is combining science ...

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Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Jack Bacon

  • TLF-IDM016255

An interview with Dr Jack Bacon, NASA engineer and futurist. Jack talks to a teacher from Sydney Girls High School about his experiences on the Vomit comet and his research into alternative energy sources. Jack also shares with us his predictions for the future of science, space travel and energy sources.

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Interactive

SmartGraphs - African Lions: Modeling Populations - iTunes app

  • TLF-IDM019773

Investigate population modelling by studying the renowned African lions of the Ngorongoro Crater including real-life scientific data. Analyse graphs and data to answer questions and make predictions about changes in the lion population and other population models. Find out about important ecological and modelling concepts. ...

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Interactive

Kamay – looking up

  • TLF-IDM025852

This resource explores the navigation techniques used during the journey of the Endeavour and contrasts these with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander navigational and astronomical systems that have been in place for many thousands of years. This learning sequence contains activities suitable for Year 7 - Year 10 science ...

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Interactive

Tectonics investigator

  • TLF-IDL5826

Investigate the internal structure of the Earth using earthquake measurements. Examine the Earth’s outer layer. Fit the Earth's tectonic plates together like a jigsaw puzzle. Identify how plate movements produce many features of the Earth’s surface. Predict the formation of new volcanic islands. This learning object is ...

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Online

Interdependence in the environment

  • TLF-IDM025139

Within an ecosystem there are interdependent relationships between the species of that environment which are recognised and understood in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ecological knowledge and practices. This classroom activity provides students with the opportunity to develop science understanding of the interdependencies ...

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