Science / Year 8 / Science Understanding / Biological sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

Multi-cellular organisms contain systems of organs carrying out specialised functions that enable them to survive and reproduce (ACSSU150)

Elaborations
  • identifying the organs and overall function of a system of a multicellular organism in supporting the life processes
  • describing the structure of each organ in a system and relating its function to the overall function of the system
  • examining the specialised cells and tissues involved in structure and function of particular organs
  • comparing similar systems in different organisms such as digestive systems in herbivores and carnivores, respiratory systems in fish and mammals
  • distinguishing between asexual and sexual reproduction
  • comparing reproductive systems of organisms
Cross-curriculum priorities
ScOT terms

Plant structure and function,  Body systems

Online

Vitamania: vitamin profiles

Most people know that vitamins are an essential daily requirement for a healthy life, but few people really know how or why. Vitamins need to be examined individually to understand and appreciate their differences and specific importance to our bodily functions. This lesson plan with supporting video clips, introduces students ...

Interactive

DIY Human Body - iTunes app

Learn about the human body and its systems - circulatory, digestive, skeletal, immune and respiratory systems. Each body system includes information, diagrams, videos and step-by-step scientific investigations to carry out. Free when viewed on 21/6/15

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Plant scan

Show an alien how much you know about plant life on Earth. Answer a quiz on plant structure and function. Identify labels for plant parts. Match each plant part with its function. This learning object is the last in a series of two objects.

Video

Eyeballing colours

Fiery red, cool blue and sunny yellow are phrases used to describe feelings associated with colours. But what actually is colour? Why is it there and what helps us to see it? Follow Chloe Sheridan as she unravels the complexity of seeing colour by delving into its physics and biology. She entered this video in the 2013 ...

Video

Dam threatens ancient lungfish

Explore the issues around the construction of the Traveston Dam in Queensland with Professor Jean Joss and former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie. In this 2006 news report they outline arguments for and against the construction of the dam and how it would affect one of the few remaining homes of a 150-million- year-old ...

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Plant Mineral Requirements

Students use this resource consisting of six slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand that nitrogen and other elements, in addition to carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, are required for plant growth. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Blood Plasma

Students use this resource consisting of nine slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to identify some of the substances transported in the plasma. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Exploring the human body

This resource for basic physiology and anatomy has a comprehensive outline of all the systems of the body and sensory organs, with animated graphics and activities to help explain them, plus links to visual and interactive resources online.

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Testing a Leaf for Starch

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how to test a leaf for starch and how this relates to the occurrence of photosynthesis in the leaf. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Breathing

Students use this resource consisting of eleven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how the lungs are ventilated by breathing. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Differences between Inhaled and Exhaled Air

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to identify the differences between inhaled and exhaled air. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Adaptations of the Alveoli

Students use this resource consisting of six slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to identify how the lungs are adapted for efficient gas exchange. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Respiration in Plants

This resource consists of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting information about why plants need to respire, their need for oxygen and a comparison of when respiration and photosynthesis occurs.

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Digestion Part 2 (sk- Intel)

This brief resource consists of 6 sets of illustrated slides with voice over presenting highly detailed information about the role and function of the various parts of the digestive system starting at the small intestine onwards (it is the second part of a resource).

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Human Circulatory System

This resource consists of 5 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting detailed information and explanations of the components of the human circulatory system and their functions.

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Differences between Photosynthesis and Respiration

Students use this resource consisting of four slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand the differences between photosynthesis and respiration. These are summarised in word equations. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

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Aerobic Respiration

This resource consists of 2 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting information about aerobic respiration and compares respiration with burning.

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Organ Systems

Students use this resource consisting of seven slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand how different organs in our bodies work together to keep us alive. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Video

Turtles

This 7 minute video segment from Catalyst describes the risk factors that impact on turtle survival. Protecting the future of turtle populations on the Queensland coast has been the life's work of Col Limpus for the past 40 years. His efforts have included research and reducing predation from foxes and entrapment in trawler nets.

Interactive

Composition of inhaled and exhaled air

This resource consists of 2 sets of automated illustrated slides with voice over presenting information about how the process of respiration changes the composition of gases present in inhaled and exhaled air. The second set demonstrates experiments to show that carbon dioxide and water vapour are exhaled.