Science / Year 8 / Science inquiry / Communicating

Curriculum content descriptions

write and create texts to communicate ideas, findings and arguments for specific purposes and audiences, including selection of appropriate language and text features, using digital tools as appropriate (AC9S8I08)

Elaborations
  • exploring the role of active and passive voice in scientific writing and analysing contemporary journal articles to identify the use of language features such as voice or tense
  • writing a report on a scientific investigation using appropriate scientific conventions and representations, including a discussion of how assumptions and possible sources of error may have affected the results
  • modifying the method for an investigation and explaining where and why the original was changed with reference to any assumptions and sources of error
  • constructing a persuasive text on the use of artificial organs including scientific explanations and principles to influence a specified audience
  • filming a documentary on the dynamic nature of the geosphere and selecting appropriate language, models or analogies to engage a specific audience
  • creating a digital infographic to compare and contrast different forms of energy, highlighting examples of energy transfer and transformations within each
  • acknowledging and exploring First Nations Australians’ ways of communicating their understanding of the internal systems of organisms
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
ScOT terms

Explanations (Scientific inquiry),  Data representation,  Creating texts,  Reasoning

Text

Writing in Science

This practice guide focuses on the types of sentences students should use in their writing in Science. It has been developed for secondary teachers of this learning area. This guide offers guidance for analysing and providing targeted feedback on your students’ sentence structure, grammar and punctuation. Examples and teaching ...

Text

Mobile Minerals

In this resource, students investigate the raw materials that are used to make smartphones. Students participate in two activities: My Smartphone is Made of What?! and The Problem with Smartphones. In My Smartphone is Made of What?!, students investigate the minerals and elements that are used to make an average smartphone. ...

Text

Biofabrication – communicating STEM frontiers

In this lesson students learn about biomedical engineering and the emerging field of biofabrication.

Text

Work sample Year 8 Science: Bouncing ball

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Year 8 Science. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation of ...

Text

TikTok science stories lesson

In this lesson students learn about the diverse roles of science communicators and are challenged to create their own science communication text in a contemporary medium. Students will explore the important function science communicators play in informing the community and how different communication platforms are used ...

Interactive

Aim to sustain: A world of difference

Students explore what is happening at an individual, community and global level and plan actions they will take. These may range from taking a quiz to sharing knowledge about being 'green' at home, through to planning a conference session to deliver to other students. The resource includes videos, SMART notebooks, worksheets ...

Interactive

Biodiversity – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

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.

Interactive

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

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

Laptop Wrap: Particle model

A webpage with a focus on investigating the particle model of matter with supporting activities and links to resources.

Interactive

Aim to sustain: Get the message

This resource is a subset of the larger resource, Aim to Sustain. As such it includes the culminating activity in which students study and make artworks that communicate an environmental message about single use and disposable plastics. The resource includes links to video, a slideshow, worksheets and links to further interactive ...

Video

Catalyst: Heat transfer: is it hot or cold?

If you picked up a paper book and a metal box do you think one would feel colder to the touch or would they feel the same? Watch this clip to see if people's predictions about the temperature of objects match their observations. You may be as surprised as they are!

Interactive

Aim to Sustain

Students identify and explore ways in which human activity can threaten biodiversity and the health of our planet. Students are encouraged to take positive action to promote sustainability. The four resources: Get the message, Help a habitat, Alien invaders and A world of difference include videos, SMART notebooks, worksheets ...

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; ...

Image

Marine scientist in the laboratory

This is a colour photograph of marine scientist Dr Miles Lamare. Dr Lamare is in his office at the Portobello Marine Laboratory at the University of Otago, New Zealand. On the desk behind Dr Lamare is the scientific equipment he uses to download data from electronic tags, which he attaches to sea stars.

Image

Downloading data from animal tags

This is a colour photograph of a scientist in a laboratory using a laptop computer to download data from electronic animal tags. To the right of the computer is a specialised communication box into which the electronic tag is placed. The scientist in the image is Dr Miles Lamare, a marine biologist involved in sea star ...

Interactive

Chicken farming in the living world: Stage 4

Chickens are fascinating animals and provide students with an interesting subject matter to discuss the many aspects of our living world. This resource for students explores the question 'What scientific knowledge has influenced the current agricultural practices of the chicken meat industry?' and comprises a series of ...

Video

The power of science photography

Visual art and science are often considered to be separate fields. Watch as Phred Petersen talks about the way he combines his passions of photography and science. What is the role of technology in enabling this crossover? What kinds of scientific discoveries can be assisted by high-speed photography? And how can scientific ...

Text

School of rocks: teacher resource

In this structured inquiry unit of work students explore the formation of rocks and minerals. They investigate how the properties of rocks and minerals are related to their use, and how these naturally occurring materials provide valuable resources for human activity. Students also investigate the effects of volcanic activity, ...

Interactive

Cool colour

This is a lesson plan, complete with instructions, materials list, worksheets and photographs of the expected results from the ABC's surfing scientist. The students are encouraged to participate in a first-hand science activity using sugar and colour-coated chocolate lollies.

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Shrinking and expanding metals

Explore with the Surfing Scientist team what happens when metals are heated and cooled. Find out what happens to a metal ring when it is immersed in extremely cold liquid nitrogen. What do hinges on the Sydney Harbour Bridge have to do with all this? Find out.