Welcome to my learning tasks portifolio. These activities cover Literacy, Numeracy and Working Scientifically outcomes from the NSW stage 4 and 5 science syllabus. My activities are listed below:
Working Scientifically
Photosynthesis Experimental Design
Health Discoveries Research Task
Modelling Natural Selection
Literacy
Cloze Passage on Plants and Photosynthesis
Antibacterial Resistance Summary Task
Organelles Vocabulary Task
Numeracy
Newton's Second Law Simulation and Calculations
Graphing Half-Life
Scale Modeling in Space
Friday, 21 August 2015
Literacy: Antibacterial Resistance Flowchart
Activity
This activity
requires stage 5 students to read the article linked below and use this to
create a flowchart of series of diagrams to illustrate the steps in bacterial
resistance. Students will complete this activity after learning about the
process of natural selection, so this way they can apply their prior knowledge
to the article. Some key words students
should include will be listed on the board as they do this activity (such as
resistance, mutation, selection, selective pressure). This way all students
will have equal access to the activity and know the expectations the teacher
has set for this activity. Furthermore, as students are creating their own
summaries, they will be able to add as much or as little detail as they wish
to.
Syllabus Dot points Covered
LW4 c. explain,
using examples, how natural selection relates to changes in a population, eg in
the
development of
resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and insects to pesticides
Activity Link
Numeracy - Scale Modelling and Time in Space
Activity
Aimed at stage 5
students, this mathematical modelling exercise allows students to visualise the
distances and time taken to travel to the moon and to the star Sirius. This
numeracy activity will be highly engaging for students, as it allows them to
learn to perform simple scale and distance calculations but also model it,
bringing an abstract concept closer to home for them. This activity would best
be done in pre-selected groups with students of varying ability. This way,
students who are more confident with the mathematics and calculations aspect of
the investigation will be able to demonstrate this to the students who are
weaker at maths.
Syllabus Dot Points Covered
ES1
c. use appropriate
scales to describe differences in sizes of and distances between structures
making up the universe
WS6 Students conduct
investigations by:
a. individually and
collaboratively using appropriate investigation methods, including fieldwork
and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data (
d. using appropriate
units for measuring physical quantities
Activity Link from Science Works (museums Victoria), pages 1-2.
Literacy: Organelles Vocabulary Test
Activity
This stage 4
literacy activity is an online quiz where students match the term to their
explanation. This allows students to revise both scientific concepts and
vocabulary. By using this online quiz to revise the terms, students are able to
work through these terms at their own pace, and students who wish to advance
their knowledge or feel the need to do more study are able to go back and
revise terms they feel they need to improve their understanding in.
Syllabus Dot Points Covered
LW2
b.
identify structures within cells, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell
membrane, cell wall and chloroplast, and describe their functions
Thursday, 20 August 2015
Numeracy: Newton's Second Law Simulation
Activity
Stage 5 students
will use this simulation as a basis for calculations to invesigate Newton's
Second law of Motion: F = m x a. Students will use the simulation to compare
the effects of different forces on the same mass and the impact this has on the
acceleration of the skateboard. Using the equation, students will be able to
understand the relationship from a numerical point of view. More advanced
students who are able to complete the task faster can then repeat the
calculations, changing the mass and making predictions about its effect using
the equation. Students who struggle with mathematical concepts will be able to
do the work without the calculations, visualising Newton's second law.
Syllabus Dot points Covered
PW2 a. describe qualitatively the relationship
between force, mass and acceleration
c.
relate acceleration qualitatively to a change in speed and/or direction as a
result of a net force
d.
analyse qualitatively everyday situations involving motion in terms of Newton's
laws
Additional Content
•
relate quantitatively, force, mass and acceleration, and apply to everyday
situations
WS4 Students
question and predict by:
b.
predicting outcomes based on observations and scientific knowledge
WS6 Students conduct
investigations by:
d.
using appropriate units for measuring physical quantities
e.
reporting data and information, evidence and findings, with accuracy and
honesty
WS7.1 Students
process data and information by:
c.
accessing data and information by using a range of appropriate digital
technologies
d.
applying numerical procedures and mathematical concepts and using digital
technologies, where appropriate
WS7.2 Students
analyse data and information by:
b.
describing relationships between variables
Activity Link
Students will use
this PhET simulation (motion) to complete their calculations, using four different
forces of their own choosing.
Working Scientifically: Photosynthesis Experimental Design
Activity
In this activity for
stage 4 students, students are required to write their own method to
investigate the effect of either light or water on photosynthesis and therefore
plant growth. Students are given an aim and are expected to come up with their
own hypothesis and method. They will need to consider thing such as:
replication, minimising uncontrolled variables and measuring their results. By
coming up with their own method, students can make their investigation as
simple or complex as they like, fitting to their ability level.
Syllabus Dot Points Covered
WS4 Students
question and predict by:
b.
making predictions based on scientific knowledge and their own observations
WS5.2 Students plan
first-hand investigations by:
a.
collaboratively and individually planning a range of investigation types,
including fieldwork, experiments, surveys and research
b.
outlining a logical procedure for undertaking a range of investigations to
collect valid firsthand data, including fair tests
c.
identifying in fair tests, variables to be controlled (held constant), measured
and changed
d.
describing safety and ethical guidelines to be addressed
WS5.3 Students
choose equipment or resources for an investigation by:
b.
selecting equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task
WS6 Students conduct
investigations by:
a.
collaboratively and individually conducting a range of investigation types,
including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are
followed
b.
assembling and using appro
d.
following the planned procedure, including in fair tests, measuring and
controlling variables
e.
recording observations and measurements accurately, using appropriate units for
physical quantities
g.
assessing the method used and identifying improvements to the method
Activity Sheet
Students
are not given a specific sheet for this activity, however they can make use of
the summary sheet and website shown below. The aim "Investigate the effect
of light or water on photosynthesis" will be written on the board.
Students may use this link or this sheet to assist in their experimental design:
Working Scientifically: Modelling Natural Selection
Activity
In this activity,
students use matchsticks to model natural selection. Working on a blue carpet,
they try and pick up as many matchsticks (coloured blue and pink) as they can
in a limited time. This demonstrates the effect of camouflage on predation and how
this changes the ratios of the model organism over time. This prac is aimed at
a lower ability stage 5 class, as such it is very highly scaffolded. The
practical itself means that students who struggle with the concept of natural
selection are able to model it and see it for themselves. Students of a higher
ability who complete the work earlier will be able to continue modelling
natural selection over further generations.
Syllabus Dot points covered
WS4 Students
question and predict by:
a.
formulating questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically
WS6 Students conduct
investigations by:
e.
reporting data and information, evidence and findings, with accuracy and
honesty
f.
evaluating the effectiveness of the planned procedure, co
WS7.1 Students
process data and information by:
e.
identifying data which supports or discounts a question or hypothesis being
investigated or a proposed solution to a problem
f.
describing specific ways to improve the quality of the data
WS8 Students solve
problems by:
d.
using cause-and-effect relationships to explain ideas
e.
using models to explain phenomena and make predictions
LW4
a.
describe scientific evidence that present-day organisms have evolved from
organisms in the past
c.
explain, using examples, how natural selection relates to changes in a
population, eg in the development of resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and
insects to pesticides
Activity Sheet
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