Science / Year 9 / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science

Curriculum content descriptions

People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities (ACSHE160)

Elaborations
  • investigating how technologies using electromagnetic radiation are used in medicine, such as in the detection and treatment of cancer
  • using knowledge of science to test claims made in advertising or expressed in the media
  • investigating the use of nanotechnology in medicine, such as the delivery of pharmaceuticals
  • describing how science is used in the media to explain a natural event or justify actions
  • evaluating claims relating to products such as electrical devices, fuels, indigestion tablets
  • considering the impact of technological advances developed in Australia, such as the cochlear implant and bionic eye
  • considering the impacts of human activity on an ecosystem from a range of different perspectives
  • considering how communication methods are influenced by new mobile technologies that rely on electromagnetic radiation
  • recognising aspects of science, engineering and technology within careers such as medicine, medical technology, telecommunications, biomechanical engineering, pharmacy and physiology
ScOT terms

Evaluation,  Reasoning,  Judgement

Online

The Conversation - Understanding immunisation and vaccination

A series of articles about vaccination and immunisation including: explanations on so-called ‘herd immunity’; myth-busting; the research on the claims made by those who are anti-vaccination; and case studies of immunisation against polio, small pox, HIV, influenza, measles, and others. Each article is about 600-800 words.The ...

Online

Art Conservation: STEM careers

This is a unit of work about the scientific techniques and ethical considerations in art conservation and the occupations that exist in art conservation. The resource includes: An introduction with teacher notes, student tasks, embedded videos and links to other resources. Specific topics explored include what art conservators ...

Online

3D Printing: STEM careers

This is a unit of work about 3D printing, the occupations that use 3D printing and the future of this technology. The resource includes: An introduction with teacher notes, student tasks, embedded videos and links to additional resources. Specific topics explored include: what is 3D printing; applications of 3D printing; ...

Online

Exploring the production and marketing of seafood

This is a teacher resource containing a series of inquiry teaching sequences relating to seafood production and marketing in Australia. It contains material to assist planning, implementing and assessing a research task about the technologies and methods used in the fishing and aquaculture industries to catch and farm seafood, ...

Online

Forensics: STEM careers

This is a unit of work about forensic science, the occupations that use forensic science and the future and ethics of forensics. The resource includes: An introduction with teacher notes, student tasks, embedded videos and links to additional resources. Specific topics explored include what is forensic science and how ...

Online

Water: learn it for life! - year 7 science

This PDF unit of work is one of a series of resources accessible by searching the list in the series.It includes two teaching and learning sequences: 'Water journeys' focuses on the water cycle, and 'Pure water' focuses on the processes and people involved in creating and managing drinkable water. It provides Australian ...

Online

Recent evapotranspiration

This resource is a Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) web page with a map of Australia showing daily reference evapotranspiration and also tables of daily transpiration for each Australian state and the Northern Territory. Monthly data is available via the location links in the tables for each state.

Online

Food for thought: learn resources for science

This is a rich resource for teachers about the impact of climate change on small-scale farmers. It includes two sets of resources, one for the primary level and the other for the secondary level. Each set of resources includes: a teacher guide with learning activities; worksheets for students; crop cards; and a PowerPoint ...

Online

Game changers and change makers: resource book of ideas for National Science Week 2018

This resource book includes ideas to support students’ involvement in investigating, exploring, experimenting, designing, creating and communicating their understandings about game changers and change makers from the past who have solved some of the seemingly unsolvable problems, to game changers and change makers of today, ...

Text

The Invisible War: A tale on two scales

The Invisible War is a graphic novel set on the Western Front in 1916. The novel is an interdisciplinary text that includes a large science-history reference section (hyper-linked within the novel). Told from two points of view – human and microbial – the story describes a deadly infection by dysentery-causing Shigella ...

Online

Green packaging lesson

This lesson plan engages students in finding ways to reduce plastic waste in food packaging. Students investigate problems created by plastic waste then observe ways these issues are being addressed. They design new packaging for food items that currently produce excessive waste then test their designs objectively. The ...

Online

English as an Additional Language: Science Language Literacy Pilot Project

This teacher resource describes a pilot project in which selected Victorian science teachers learnt functional and systemic pedagogical strategies to support English as an Additional Language (EAL) students to understand and use science literacy genres. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; ...

Online

Secondary science: models and simulations

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'models and simulations' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers assist students to interpret, ...

Online

Collisions and biomechanics lesson

This lesson plan investigates ways in which automobile manufacturers seek to reduce injuries that occur in car accidents. Students note the effects of car accidents on human bodies, the factors that influence the type and severity of injuries, and the safety ratings of vehicles in which they travel regularly. The resource ...

Online

Biodiversity: protecting the environment

This study guide examines the complexity and importance of maintaining a vibrant and healthy farming environment including management of the biodiversity that pasture, livestock and natural fauna and flora. A range of articles and activities explore the challenges and opportunities that cattle and sheep farmers are embracing ...

Online

The Conversation: climate change

This resource consists of a series of articles that examine the issue of climate change including explanations of the science, the solutions and the political, social, economic impact that impact climate change has had on the International community and Australia. It can be used to provide examples of discussions in Australia ...

Online

Education - Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project

This is a comprehensive education package based on of the world's most exciting ecological restoration projects that is happening right now in Western Australia! It features interactive virtual tours, 3D skulls, videos, real-action inquiry projects, research projects, native animal educational card games and activities, ...