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Science / Year 8 / Science as a human endeavour / Nature and development of science

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View on Australian Curriculum website Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Curriculum content descriptions

explain how new evidence or different perspectives can lead to changes in scientific knowledge (AC9S8H01)

Elaborations
  • identifying how technological developments, such as those related to microscopes and medical imaging, have led to improved understanding of cells and organs
  • considering how advances in technologies have enabled the repair and replacement of organs using synthetic materials
  • analysing how sustainability priorities such as efficiency and limiting environmental impact have led to innovative practices in mining and mine site regeneration
  • examining the evidence that led to the acceptance of the theory of plate tectonics over the idea of continental drift
  • investigating how advances in deep Earth imaging techniques have enabled identification of mineral, energy and water resources beneath surface sedimentary rock
  • discussing the story of Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity or the questions that Albert Einstein asked which led him to developing a new theory
  • researching why Dmitri Mendeleev developed a different representation of the periodic table
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Literacy Literacy
ScOT terms

Paradigms,  Evidence,  Observations (Data)

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20 direct matches to AC9S8H01

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Plate Tectonics 2: Plate Tectonics and Australia

  • TLF-IDA005115

In these activities, students predict how the historical geographical location of Australia would influence flora and fauna. They then construct a map of Earth using tectonic plates, and use this map to identify the geological features and events that occur at different plate boundaries. This resource is part of a suite ...

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FLEET Schools: Forces and Energy

  • TLF-IDA004932

This collection of learning activities explores the concept of energy and why it is crucial to our understanding of how everything in the universe works – from sub-atomic particles to the sun, mobile phones and the universe itself. There are links to critical thinking activities and experiments that cover the concepts of ...

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Biofabrication – communicating STEM frontiers

  • TLF-IDA004616

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

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Video

The power of science photography

  • TLF-IDM020213

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 ...

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Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: plant list

  • TLF-IDA002853

For thousands of years, First Nations peoples across Australia have been growing and cultivating plants. Plants are grown for many different purposes, including food, tools, medicine, shelter, clothing, hunting, carrying, water craft, ceremony and land management. Everything they needed to survive is provided by the bush. ...

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Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: harvesting

  • TLF-IDA002852

The satisfaction of eating straight from the garden is one of life’s best learning experiences, however we need to be respectful and mindful to only harvest what we need to allow the plant to continue to thrive for generations to come. This activity involves the assessment and mapping of local environments to create a successful ...

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Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: resources from the bush

  • TLF-IDA002851

For thousands of years, First Nations peoples across Australia have been using plants for many different purposes. Plants are used for food, fibre, shelter, medicine, tools and utensils, hunting, music and ceremony. Everything they needed to survive comes from the land. Outcomes of this learning activity are for learners ...

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Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: planting

  • TLF-IDA002849

The outcomes of this learning activity are for children to: follow instructions and a planting plan; understand the steps involved in planting out and maintaining a successful Indigenous plant-use garden enjoy being active and productive outdoors and build their social and teamwork skills; physically be involved in the ...

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Video

Catalyst: What is a megafire?

  • TLF-IDM021144

Join Catalyst reporter Anja Taylor as she visits the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico and discovers the impacts of recent megafires on the landscape there. What is a megafire? And how is a megafire different from a regular wildfire? How have recent fires permanently transformed the landscapes that Anja and Professor Craig ...

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Interactive

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

  • TLF-IDM020885

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.

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Video

Understanding the causes of climate change

  • TLF-IDM020685

Did you know that climate change is not a recent phenomenon? In the past, natural events led to changes in the climate. Although natural events still affect climate, they're not enough to explain the big changes we've been seeing in the last 150 years. What changes on earth can account for such dramatic changes to our climate? ...

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Video

Working towards a renewable energy future

  • TLF-IDM020605

Listen to electrical engineering student Kulsoom Hussain describe her dream career. What are some of the challenges she says she'll face in trying to achieve her goals? What can you find out about the energy sources used in Australia? How much renewable energy is used to power our country?

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Video

Testing the 5-second rule

  • TLF-IDM020210

When it comes to dropping food, have you heard of the 5-second rule? Or the 3-second rule? Watch this video to learn what really happens when you drop food. In order to cause disease, what must bacteria do? What circumstances allow bacteria and viruses to contaminate food more successfully?

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Video

What are microbes?

  • TLF-IDM020192

What are microbes? What are the four major groups that most microbes belong to? Listen as Dr Taghrid Istivan explains where microbes are found. What is the name of the group of microbes she describes as beneficial to our health? Can you explain what happens when people get food poisoning?

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Interactive

Science talk 2007: Adam Cawley

  • TLF-IDM016656

An interview with Adam Cawley, a chemist and scientist from the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, who is an expert in drug testing in sport. Adam talks to a teacher from Killara High School about working as a chemist, and the challenges in drug testing.

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Video

Royal Botanic Gardens

  • TLF-IDM016623

This seven and a half minute video segment from Catalyst emphasises the importance of collections in science. The Royal Botanic Gardens is the oldest scientific research organisation in Australia. The history of the gardens is outlined up to its current status as the home to almost 9,000 different species of plants. Paul ...

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Audio

Chemicals on the Great Barrier Reef

  • TLF-IDM016174

This program deals with a range of human impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. Herbicides from land runoff have been traced to algae and sea grasses in river mouths and coastal zones along the Great Barrier Reef. Effects include retardation of photosynthesis and growth of corals. Other pressures on the reef include high water ...

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Video

Catalyst: Snapshots of top Australian scientists

  • TLF-IDM015714

Australia has produced many of the world's top scientists. Watch this clip to discover who some of them are. Explore the scientific discoveries that made them famous, and how they changed our understanding of the world.

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Interactive

Energy chains: energy use

  • TLF-IDL2357

Select energy sources and energy converters to build energy chains to power appliances and vehicles. Examine how each energy converter in a chain loses some energy and reduces the energy available for use. For example, show that using a solar panel and an electric motor to drive a car delivers only 16% of the original ...

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The Conversation - issues concerning self and identity - organ donation

  • TLF-IDM021514

This resource contains a series of articles about organ donation, including ethical consideration of the role of family; research methods available to increase donor rates; and examples from other countries (e.g. Spain) that have high organ donation rates. It can be used to consider a wide range of issues, evidence, and ...

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