Science / Year 8 / Science Inquiry Skills / Questioning and predicting

Curriculum content descriptions

Identify questions and problems that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on scientific knowledge (ACSIS139)

Elaborations
  • considering whether investigation using available resources is possible when identifying questions or problems to investigate
  • recognising that the solution of some questions and problems requires consideration of social, cultural, economic or moral aspects rather than or as well as scientific investigation
  • using information and knowledge from their own investigations and secondary sources to predict the expected results from an investigation
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Predictions (Science),  Research questions

Interactive

Energy-efficient house

Explore how the temperature inside a house is affected by air flowing in and out. Look closely at the energy effects of design variables in a house such as insulation materials, window coverings and window direction. Build a house with maximum energy efficiency by adjusting key design variables. Change the house design ...

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Disappearing coin trick

This resource contains a materials, instructions and brief explanation for students about the process of rotating hands to make a coin seem to dislodge.

Online

Sphero slalom lesson

In this lesson students explore slalom sports and how competitors maximise speed when completing a course. Students research different slalom sports and then share their findings with the class. Students investigate the impact of distance and friction on time to complete a course through digital and unplugged activities. ...

Video

Triple J: Why is Pluto not a planet?

Watch this clip and learn why Pluto was taken off the official list of planets. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki explains the three criteria that must be met before planets can be called planets. What are they?

Video

Colourful Weather, Ep 1: What shape is a rainbow?

All you need is water, the sky and sunlight and you’ve got something that’s colourful – with a pot of gold at each end. What is it? A rainbow! Find out what happens to sunlight inside a raindrop, why rainbow colours are always in the same order and the real shape of a rainbow. Tip: it’s not an arch!

Image

Common bottlenose dolphins, 'Tursiops truncatus'

This is a colour photograph of a small pod of common bottlenose dolphins ('Tursiops truncatus') swimming in the ocean. This photograph was taken in Fiordland, New Zealand, where a specialised group of common bottlenose dolphins live within the fiords. (Classification - Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Cetartiodactyla; ...

Image

Harvesting New Zealand cockles

This is a colour photograph of two people collecting New Zealand cockles ('Austrovenus stutchburyi') in shallow sea water. The cockles are being dug by hand from a sand flat and placed into buckets. (Classification - Phylum: Mollusca; Class: Bivalvia; Order: Veneroida; Family Veneridae.)

Image

Blue cod, 'Parapercis colias'

This is a colour underwater photograph of a blue cod ('Parapercis colias'), showing its bright blue colouration. The image mostly displays the front part of the cod, especially the head with its large eyes and lips. (Classification - Phylum: Chordata; Class: Actinopterygii; Order: Perciformes; Family: Pinguipedidae.)

Image

Measuring photosynthesis

This is a colour underwater photograph of marine scientist Candida Savage using a scientific instrument known as the diving-PAM. The diving-PAM is being used to measure photosynthesis in corals in Fiji. Candida Savage is wearing full diving clothing and equipment including mask, wetsuit and oxygen tanks.

Image

Taking ocean samples

This is a colour photograph of marine scientist Dr Candida Savage taking samples from the ocean off Stewart Island, New Zealand. In the image, Dr Savage appears to be placing samples into microtubes and placing the microtubes into a microtube storage container. Dr Savage is sitting on a jetty by the ocean.

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.

Interactive

Energy chains: make electricity

Build up to six energy chains that make electricity. Select from different energy sources and choose energy converters to match. Examine the type of energy change that happens in each converter. Arrange the converters into the correct chain so that the energy can be delivered as electricity. For example, construct a chain ...

Interactive

Fair test

Run experiments in a plant research laboratory. Investigate the effects of different variables on the growth of lettuces, peas and tomatoes. Research the answers to questions about how to achieve optimum hydroponic growth conditions. Examine the effect of key variables on growth: nitrogen, temperature, light intensity and ...

Interactive

Give me a brake

Investigate braking efficiency of cars and trucks by testing stopping distances under controlled conditions. Test effects of vehicle type, tyres, road surface and weather conditions. Choose driving speed, then apply brakes and compare stopping distances. Estimate distances from target markers. Answer questions about antilock ...

Image

Concept cartoon: producers

This image is a concept cartoon. It shows a boy and a girl discussing food chains. One character is stating that producers are always at the start of a food chain, while the other character is refuting this. The cartoon is intended as a stimulus for further discussion of the concept.

Image

Southern gastric brooding frog

This is a colour photograph of a preserved southern gastric brooding frog ('Rheobatrachus silus'). It is a museum specimen viewed from the front.

Image

Bivalve mollusc

This is a colour photograph of a collection of bivalve molluscs ('Theora lubrica').

Image

Humpback whale carcass, Tangalooma Whaling Station, c1957 - item 1 of 2

This is a colour photograph showing the carcass of a southern humpback whale ('Megaptera novaengliae') on the wooden slipway of the Tangalooma Whaling Station on Moreton Island in Queensland. The whale is intact with its underside uppermost, showing distinctive colourings and markings, including the ventral grooves. Onlookers, ...

Image

Fish fossil

This is a colour photograph of an ancient fish ('Wadeichthys oxyops') fossilised in mudstone. This specimen is from the Koonwarra fossil bed in South Gippsland, Victoria. The fins, tail and body scales of the fish are clearly visible. Museum cataloguing numbers are written on the rock.

Image

Cranbourne meteorite

This is a colour photograph of an iron meteorite called 'The Cranbourne No 2 mass'.