Science at Dianella Heights

Science at Dianella Heights Primary School is taught from Year 1 to Year 6 as a specialist subject. The program has three interrelated strands: science understanding, science as a human endeavour and science inquiry skills. Students are encouraged to use their critical thinking skills about science, through a variety of theoretical and hands-on activities. Students develop their understanding using a clearly described inquiry process to explore science, its concepts and uses in a highly stimulating environment.

Science Understanding

Science understanding is evident when a person selects and integrates appropriate science knowledge to explain and predict phenomena, and applies that knowledge to new situations. Science knowledge refers to facts, concepts, principles, laws, theories and models that have been established by scientists over time. This strand provides the content through which the key ideas of science and skills are developed within contexts appropriate to the learners.

Science understanding sub-strands comprise of

Biological Sciences

Earth and Space Sciences

Chemical Sciences

Physical Sciences

Science as a Human Endeavour

Through science, humans seek to improve their understanding and explanations of the natural world. Science involves the construction of explanations based on evidence and science knowledge can be changed as new evidence becomes available. Science influences society by posing, and responding to, social and ethical questions, and scientific research is itself influenced by the needs and priorities of society. This strand recognises that science advances through the contributions of many different people from different cultures and that there are many rewarding science-based career paths.

There are two sub-strands for science as a human endeavour

Nature and development of science

Use and influence of science

Science Inquiry Skills

Science inquiry involves identifying and posing questions; planning, conducting and reflecting on investigations; processing, analysing and interpreting evidence; and communicating findings. This strand is concerned with evaluating claims, investigating ideas, solving problems, drawing valid conclusions and developing evidence-based arguments. The skills students develop give them the tools they need to achieve deeper understanding of the science concepts and how scientific thinking applies to these understandings.

Science investigations are activities in which ideas, predictions or hypotheses are tested and conclusions are drawn in response to a question or problem. Investigations can involve a range of activities, including experimental testing, field work, locating and using information sources, conducting surveys, and using modelling and simulations.

There are five sub-strands of science inquiry skills. These are:

Questioning and predicting

Planning and conducting

Processing and analysing data and information

Evaluating