NSW Science 7–10 Syllabus (2023)

Stage 4

A student:

• identifies questions and makes predictions to guide scientific investigations SC4-WS-02
  – Identify questions and problems that can be investigated scientifically
  – Make predictions based on scientific knowledge and observations
• explains how the properties of substances enable separation in a range of techniques SC4-SOL-01
  – Identify the 3 main states of matter and how they are represented in the movement of water on earth
  – Represent changes in the state of matter in terms of particle arrangement and movement
  – Compare the properties of dilute, concentrated, saturated and supersaturated solutions
  – Classify matter as pure substances, including elements and compounds, and impure substances, including mixtures based on their particle composition
• explains how uses of elements and compounds are influenced by scientific understanding and discoveries relating to their properties SC4-PRT-01
  – Identify some common elements in everyday objects
  – Conduct a series of investigations to identify and compare the physical properties of metals, non-metals and metal
• explains how energy causes geological and chemical change SC4-CHG-01
  – Undertake experiments to identify the indicators of physical and chemical changes
  – Describe the initial and final changes that are observed in a chemical reaction, including writing a word equation to represent a chemical reaction
  – Investigate and observe energy changes in different chemical reactions
  – Define open and closed systems to describe how energy is transferred into and out of systems, and how it cycles within a system

Stage 5

• asks questions or makes predictions using observations SCLS-WS-02
  – Ask questions about familiar objects and events based on observations
  – Make predictions based on observations

NSW K – 10 Science Syllabus mapping for all our NSW incursions

VIC Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0

For explanatory points & implementation advice for each dot point, please visit the VIC Curriculum F-10 site.

Levels 7 and 8

• the particle and kinetic theories of matter can be used to describe the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance, including the attraction between particles, and to explain the properties and behaviour of substances, including melting point, boiling point, density, compressibility, gas pressure, viscosity, diffusion, sublimation, and expansion and contraction. VC2S8U05
• matter can be classified as pure substances such as elements and compounds or impure substances such as mixtures (including solutions), and can be modelled using the particle model; mixtures may have a uniform (homogeneous) or non-uniform (heterogeneous) composition and can be separated based on the properties of their components using techniques including filtration, decantation, evaporation, crystallisation, magnetic separation, distillation and chromatography. VC2S8U06
• physical changes can be distinguished from chemical changes; a chemical change can be identified by a colour change, a temperature change, the production of a gas (including laboratory preparation and testing of oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases) or the formation of a precipitate. VC2S8U08
• investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses can be developed in guiding investigations to identify patterns, test relationships and analyse and evaluate scientific models. VC2S8I01
• scientific methods, conclusions and claims can be analysed to identify assumptions, possible sources of error, conflicting evidence and unanswered questions. VC2S8I06
• evidence-based arguments can be constructed to support conclusions or evaluate claims, including consideration of ethical issues and protocols associated with using or citing secondary data or information. VC2S8I07
• chemical reactions are described by the Law of Conservation of Mass and involve the rearrangement of atoms; they can be modelled using a range of representations, including word and simple balanced chemical equations. VC2S10U08

Levels 9 and 10

• chemical reactions include synthesis, decomposition and displacement reactions and can be classified as exothermic or endothermic; reaction rates are affected by factors including temperature, concentration, surface area of solid reactants, and catalysts. VC2S10U09
• investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses can be used in guiding investigations to test and develop explanatory models and relationships. VC2S10I01
• the validity and reproducibility of investigation methods and the validity of conclusions and claims can be evaluated, including by identifying assumptions, conflicting evidence, biases that may influence observations and conclusions, sources of error and areas of uncertainty. VC2S10I06
• arguments based on a variety of evidence can be constructed to support conclusions or evaluate claims, including consideration of any ethical issues and cultural protocols associated with accessing, using or citing secondary data or information. VC2S10I07