identifies and presents evidence that plants and animals are made up of living cells.
identifies features of groups of living things that help them to survive e.g. explains how features of certain weeds help them to successfully compete with pastures and crops.
analyses the effects of environmental change on living things and the ecosystem, e.g. the long term effects of the use of pesticides and herbicides on the food chain.
describes how some characteristics of inheritance are passed on from generation to generation, e.g. disease resistance in plants.
evaluates scientific evidence about the long-term effects that humans have made on ecosystems.
reports and comments on a particular scientist’s contributions to our understanding of cell structure and the significance of those contributions.
Working Scientifically
selects an appropriate method for an investigation taking into account its purpose and the information and equipment available.
uses instruments and techniques to provide accurate and reliable results.
selects ways to organise and present information that clearly describes patterns in data and assists in making conclusions.
identifies and considers factors that influence people’s view of science as a subject and a career choice and its use in our community.
suggests and compares alternative ways when making decisions to take action e.g. looks at and considers different solutions for controlling feral animals.
plans ways to guide an investigation (based on hypotheses and predictions) and suggests steps to carry out the investigation involving few variables.
selects instruments and techniques to collect required information.
uses information as a stimulus for further investigations.
assesses conclusions by comparing results with other students, with other sources of information and by linking ideas to other scientific findings.
reports on factors that have helped or limited the work of a particular scientist.
analyses the costs and the benefits of choosing different solutions for problems in the community, e.g. assists in decisions about issues such as spraying insects or using biological control.
identifies advantages and limitations of controlled experiments and describes alternatives.
takes into account the limitations of the instruments and the techniques that have been used and how these influence the accuracy and reliability of an investigation.
identifies the limitations of particular forms of information and analysis of this information.
discusses the many factors that affect and limit conclusions.
analyses the influence certain scientists have had on the ways we think about the world.
reports on actions taken by scientists concerned with responsible uses of science e.g. situations where scientists have been involved in public health issues.