Science / Year 3 / Science Inquiry Skills / Planning and conducting

Curriculum content descriptions

Consider the elements of fair tests and use formal measurements and digital technologies as appropriate, to make and record observations accurately (ACSIS055)

Elaborations
  • recording measurements using familiar formal units and appropriate abbreviations, such as seconds (s), grams (g), centimetres (cm)
  • using a variety of tools to make observations, such as digital cameras, thermometers, rulers and scales
General capabilities
  • Numeracy Numeracy
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
  • ICT capability Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
ScOT terms

Measurement,  Observations (Data),  Instrumentation (Technology),  Safety

Interactive

Waste and materials – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on waste and materials using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate ...

Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

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.

Interactive

Kitchen gardens – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on kitchen gardens using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and ...

Interactive

Biodiversity – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

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

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Seed germination | Questacon

In this activity, students try germinating a range of different seeds. They explore ways to collect seeds, describe the features of the seeds they gather, draw and label their seeds, then sow their seeds, water them and make observations over time. The activity includes a list of what is required, suggestions of what to ...

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The long walk

This set of learning activities challenges students to design shoes using recycled materials. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource sheets. The resource also provides an editable module template, is supported by online professional ...

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Plastic pollution

This set of learning activities challenges students to consider the problem of plastic pollution and how local actions help reduce the amount of discarded plastics in the environment. The module includes a comprehensive teacher guide, curriculum links, materials lists, design process guides and printable student resource ...

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Cool lunch

In this set of learning activities, students investigate how heat energy from the Sun transfers across a variety of materials, affecting the internal temperature of lunch containers. They conduct experiments to identify materials that absorb or reflect heat and draw on their findings to create, test and justify designs ...

Downloadable

Construct a solar cooker - teacher resource kit

This activity kit encourages students to explore how sunlight can be reflected to concentrate it and raise the temperature, creating a solar oven. Activities are guided by the design thinking process, and scaffolds students to explore solar energy, explore how sunlight can be reflected to concentrate it and raise the temperature ...

Downloadable

Construct a catapult - teacher resource kit

This activity kit challenges students to design and build catapults out of recycled and household items. Activities are guided by the design thinking process, and scaffold students to explore simple machines, tools, properties of materials and changing variables in experiments. The guide includes lesson ideas, project instructions, ...

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Living world – Stage 2

In this lesson sequence, students identify characteristics of living things and distinguish living things from non-living things. They identify and describe patterns and understand how scientists use external features to group living and non-living things. Students describe and follow a sequence of steps involving decisions ...

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Primary Connections: Making sense of changes

In this sequence of seven lessons, students learn about the observable properties of solids and liquids and how adding or removing heat leads to a change of state. They apply this knowledge to design and create a sensory experience involving solids, liquids and the adding and removal of heat. Professional learning, assessment ...

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Count The Drops | Questacon

In this activity, students investigate the properties of familiar liquids by comparing how they behave when dripped onto a coin. They investigate a range of household fluids, like tap water, soapy water and oil; they predict and observe how the liquids behave when placed in drops on a coin, and are challenged to change ...

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Cussen Park: Hear and there soundwalk

This resource provides information and teaching and learning activities about Victorian wetlands environments. The resource is designed to accompany students on a visit to Cussen Park and to provide a guide to interacting with its interpretative Soundwalk and signage. The activities also provide general information on the ...

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Temperature changes the properties of a substance

Substances that are very cold have different properties to substances that are hot. Watch as the Surfing Scientist uses hot and cold water, food colouring and a fish tank to demonstrate what happens when water at different temperatures is mixed together.

Video

For the Juniors: Why do cows make milk?

Have you ever wondered why cows make milk? In this clip you will learn the answer to this question. You will also see how cows are milked in a large dairy. Join Bill, a dairy farmer, as he tends to his herd of dairy cows.

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Pet Superstars: Alpacas: No hump but spits like a camel

Meet Kai the alpaca, an animal that is a bit like a camel. Listen as Cassandra talks about the alpaca's fleece (body covering), how it lives in herds and what it eats. See the two types of alpaca breed: Huacaya and Suri. How are they different? The clue is in their fleece.

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For the Juniors: Keeping cool in hot weather

Have you ever wondered why your face turns red when you run around? Discover what's going on under your skin when this happens, and how this helps you keep cool. See some of the clever ways that animals keep cool, too.

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For the Juniors: Exploring under the sea

Dive into the busy and colourful world of the coral reef. Explore some of the many animals that live in the shallow waters of the reef. See how they catch food and make their homes there.

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Kids in the Garden, Ep 3: Discover flower power!

Can you imagine a world without flowers? Flowers add colour, scent and beauty to our world. But why do plants make them? Discover the real purpose of flowers and how they do their job.