This Connected Learning Experience explores forces in an Indigenous context.
Description: In this investigation, younger students explore how push/pull forces can be applied to make an object move, in the context of spinning tops. They observe characteristics of successful spinners, and notice how a force is applied to set them in motion, or to make them stop.
Learning intentions
Students will be able to:
This online teaching resource helps teach young students about forces.
The resource discusses students' understandings of forces and motion (i.e., pushes and pulls) and also details learning tasks that will engage students when investigating these concepts.
There are also direct references to academic research on science education for younger primary students.
New Australian Curriculum Code: AC9S1U03 (Year 1)
This online resource covers energy transformation and conservation.
The resource is a Science ASSIST Connected Learning Experience (CLE) to help teach Year 10 students the concepts involved in energy transformation and conservation.
Description: In this investigation, energy transformation and energy conservation are investigated by analysing the motion of a pendulum.
Learning intentions
Students will be able to:
This online resource explores the concept of unbalanced forces.
The resource provides instructions for a student activity that explores the concept of unbalanced forces through the creation of a model skydiver.
Students make a skydiver and parachute contraption to demonstrate how drag caused by air resistance slows the descent of skydivers as they travel back to Earth. Gravity pulls the skydiver toward the Earth, while the air trapped by the parachute provides an upward resisting force (drag) on the skydiver.
Engineering Connection
This online resource explores different aspects of energy.
The resource is an inquiry-based learning sequence covering the different aspects of energy covered by the Australian Curriculum: Science. Note: This resource conforms to the pre-2022 version of the Curriculum (see Additional Information).
These downloadable resources explore contact and non-contact forces.
The resources are MS Word documents that detail investigations to help younger students explore non-contact forces (e.g., magnetism and gravity) and contact forces (e.g., friction and air resistance).
These forces are investigated through three activities: balloon rockets, magnet strength, and a rolling car.
The documents also include support materials and the appropriate links to the Australian Curriculum: Science.
New Australian Curriculum 9 Codes: AC9S4U03 (Year 4)
This unit of work introduces the concepts of forces.
Students investigate those forces that act at a distance and those that act due to direct contact.
Forces explored include pushes, pulls, friction, gravity and magnetism.
Students also use a fair test investigation to show how different-sized forces affect the movement of objects.
New Australian Curriculum 9 Codes: AC9S4U03 (Year 4), AC9S7U04 (Year 7)
This online resource looks at various sources of energy and how people use them.
The resource provides students with opportunities to explore the concept of energy, including renewable energy sources such as the Sun, wind and water.
Students will conduct investigations to determine factors that affect the output of a simple battery and participate in hands-on activities to consolidate their understanding and to improve the efficiency of a waterwheel.
