NSW Science 7–10 Syllabus

For explanatory points & implementation advice for each dot point, please visit the Science 7 -10 Curriculum site

A student:

• identifies questions and makes predictions to guide scientific investigations SC4-WS-02
• explains how uses of elements and compounds are influenced by scientific understanding and discoveries relating to their properties SC4-PRT-01
• explains how energy causes geological and chemical change SC4-CHG-01
• develops questions and hypotheses for scientific investigation SC5-WS-02
• communicates scientific arguments with evidence, using scientific language and terminology in a range of communication forms SC5-WS-08
• evaluates current and alternative energy use based on ethical and sustainability considerations SC5-EGY-01
• assesses the uses of materials based on their physical and chemical properties SC5-MAT-01
• describes the features and applications of different forms of waves SC5-WAM-01
• describes a range of reaction types SC5-RXN-01
• explains the factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions SC5-RXN-02

VIC Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0

• 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
• 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
• balanced and unbalanced forces acting on objects, including gravitational force, may be investigated and represented using force diagrams; changes in an object’s motion can be related to its mass and the magnitude and direction of the forces acting on it. VC2S8U14
• 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
• wave and particle models can be used to describe energy transfer (conduction, convection and radiation) through different media; waves (electromagnetic and mechanical) have different properties, features (including amplitude, wavelength, frequency and speed) and applications. VC2S10U14
• 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