The Giant STEM Investigation

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Curriculum Audit
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Students will gain an understanding of the importance of invertebrates and other factors in an Australian ecosystem through the analysis of food webs. They will enhance their classification skills using preserved specimens. They will further develop their problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as apply previous knowledge gained, through a hands-on research investigation.

This program introduces the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Redlist classifications (endangered, least concern, extinct). Students will learn about an Endangered Victorian invertebrate (the Giant Gippsland Earthworm) and how research scientists collaborate through the extended investigation.

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Curriculum Audit

Level 5
- Critical and Creative Thinking
  - Meta-cognition
    
    Investigate how ideas and problems can be disaggregated into smaller elements or ideas, how criteria can be used to identify gaps in existing knowledge, and assess and test ideas and proposals (VCCCTM031)
  - Reasoning
    
    Consider the importance of giving reasons and evidence and how the strength of these can be evaluated (VCCCTR025)
- Science
  - Science Inquiry Skills
    
    Planning and conducting
    
    With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks (VCSIS083)
    
    Analysing and Evaluating
    
    Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations (VCSIS086)
    
    Communicating
    
    Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships (VCSIS088)
  - Science Understanding
    
    Biological sciences
    
    Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (VCSSU074)
    
    The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (VCSSU075)
Level 6
- Critical and Creative Thinking
  - Meta-cognition
    
    Investigate how ideas and problems can be disaggregated into smaller elements or ideas, how criteria can be used to identify gaps in existing knowledge, and assess and test ideas and proposals (VCCCTM031)
  - Reasoning
    
    Consider the importance of giving reasons and evidence and how the strength of these can be evaluated (VCCCTR025)
- Mathematics
  - Measurement and Geometry
    
    Using Units of Measurement
    
    Solve problems involving the comparison of lengths and areas using appropriate units (VCMMG224)
  - Number and Algebra
    
    Fractions and Decimals
    
    Add and subtract decimals, with and without digital technologies, and use estimation and rounding to check the reasonableness of answers (VCMNA214)
    
    Multiply decimals by whole numbers and perform divisions by non-zero whole numbers where the results are terminating decimals, with and without digital technologies (VCMNA215)
  - Statistics and Probability
    
    Data Representation and Interpretation
    
    Interpret secondary data presented in digital media and elsewhere (VCMSP236)
- Science
  - Science Inquiry Skills
    
    Planning and conducting
    
    With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks (VCSIS083)
    
    Analysing and Evaluating
    
    Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations (VCSIS086)
    
    Communicating
    
    Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships (VCSIS088)
  - Science Understanding
    
    Biological sciences
    
    Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (VCSSU074)
    
    The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (VCSSU075)
Level 7
- Critical and Creative Thinking
  - Meta-cognition
    
    Consider how problems can be segmented into discrete stages, new knowledge synthesised during problem-solving and criteria used to assess emerging ideas and proposals (VCCCTM042)
  - Questions and Possibilities
    
    Consider how to approach and use questions that have different elements, including factual, temporal and conceptual elements (VCCCTQ032)
- Mathematics
  - Measurement and Geometry
    
    Using Units of Measurement
    
    Establish the formulas for areas of rectangles, triangles and parallelograms and use these in problem solving (VCMMG258)
  - Number and Algebra
    
    Patterns and algebra
    
    Introduce the concept of variables as a way of representing numbers using letters (VCMNA251)
  - Statistics and Probability
    
    Data Representation and Interpretation
    
    Calculate mean, median, mode and range for sets of data. Interpret these statistics in the context of data (VCMSP270)
- Science
  - Science Inquiry Skills
    
    Questioning and predicting
    
    Identify questions, problems and claims that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on scientific knowledge (VCSIS107)
    
    Planning and conducting
    
    Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (VCSIS108)
    
    In fair tests, measure and control variables, and select equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task (VCSIS109)
    
    Analysing and Evaluating
    
    Use scientific knowledge and findings from investigations to identify relationships, evaluate claims and draw conclusions (VCSIS111)
    
    Reflect on the method used to investigate a question or solve a problem, including evaluating the quality of the data collected, and identify improvements to the method (VCSIS112)
    
    Communicating
    
    Communicate ideas, findings and solutions to problems including identifying impacts and limitations of conclusions and using appropriate scientific language and representations (VCSIS113)
  - Science Understanding
    
    Science as a Human Endeavour
    
    Scientific knowledge and understanding of the world changes as new evidence becomes available; science knowledge can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines and practice of science (VCSSU089)
    
    Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (VCSSU090)
    
    Chemical sciences
    
    Chemical change involves substances reacting to form new substances (VCSSU098)
    
    Earth and space sciences
    
    Water is an important resource that cycles through the environment (VCSSU101)
    
    Biological sciences
    
    There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity (VCSSU091)
    
    Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs and can be affected by human activity (VCSSU093)
    
    Multicellular organisms contain systems of organs that carry out specialised functions that enable them to survive and reproduce (VCSSU094)
Level 8
- Critical and Creative Thinking
  - Meta-cognition
    
    Consider how problems can be segmented into discrete stages, new knowledge synthesised during problem-solving and criteria used to assess emerging ideas and proposals (VCCCTM042)
  - Questions and Possibilities
    
    Consider how to approach and use questions that have different elements, including factual, temporal and conceptual elements (VCCCTQ032)
- Mathematics
  - Statistics and Probability
    
    Data Representation and Interpretation
    
    Explore the variation of means and proportions of random samples drawn from the same population (VCMSP299)
- Science
  - Science Inquiry Skills
    
    Questioning and predicting
    
    Identify questions, problems and claims that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on scientific knowledge (VCSIS107)
    
    Planning and conducting
    
    Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (VCSIS108)
    
    In fair tests, measure and control variables, and select equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task (VCSIS109)
    
    Analysing and Evaluating
    
    Use scientific knowledge and findings from investigations to identify relationships, evaluate claims and draw conclusions (VCSIS111)
    
    Reflect on the method used to investigate a question or solve a problem, including evaluating the quality of the data collected, and identify improvements to the method (VCSIS112)
    
    Communicating
    
    Communicate ideas, findings and solutions to problems including identifying impacts and limitations of conclusions and using appropriate scientific language and representations (VCSIS113)
  - Science Understanding
    
    Science as a Human Endeavour
    
    Scientific knowledge and understanding of the world changes as new evidence becomes available; science knowledge can develop through collaboration and connecting ideas across the disciplines and practice of science (VCSSU089)
    
    Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (VCSSU090)
    
    Chemical sciences
    
    Chemical change involves substances reacting to form new substances (VCSSU098)
    
    Earth and space sciences
    
    Water is an important resource that cycles through the environment (VCSSU101)
    
    Biological sciences
    
    There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity (VCSSU091)
    
    Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs and can be affected by human activity (VCSSU093)
    
    Multicellular organisms contain systems of organs that carry out specialised functions that enable them to survive and reproduce (VCSSU094)
Level 9
- Science
  - Science Inquiry Skills
    
    Communicating
    
    Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations (VCSIS140)
    
    Planning and conducting
    
    Select and use appropriate equipment and technologies to systematically collect and record accurate and reliable data, and use repeat trials to improve accuracy, precision and reliability (VCSIS136)
  - Science Understanding
    
    Chemical sciences
    
    Chemical reactions, including combustion and the reactions of acids, are important in both non-living and living systems and involve energy transfer (VCSSU126)
    
    Science as a Human Endeavour
    
    Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries (VCSSU115)
    
    Biological sciences
    
    Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems (VCSSU121)
Level 10
- Science
  - Science Inquiry Skills
    
    Communicating
    
    Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations (VCSIS140)
    
    Planning and conducting
    
    Select and use appropriate equipment and technologies to systematically collect and record accurate and reliable data, and use repeat trials to improve accuracy, precision and reliability (VCSIS136)
  - Science Understanding
    
    Chemical sciences
    
    Chemical reactions, including combustion and the reactions of acids, are important in both non-living and living systems and involve energy transfer (VCSSU126)
    
    Science as a Human Endeavour
    
    Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries (VCSSU115)
    
    Biological sciences
    
    Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems (VCSSU121)

Audience

Student learning

Learning Areas

Critical and Creative Thinking Mathematics Science

Year Levels

Level 7 Level 8