NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
Draft Senior Secondary Curriculum
SCIENCE
May, 2012
Overview of Senior Secondary Australian Curriculum
• ACARA has developed draft senior secondary
Australian Curriculum in the four learning areas of
English, mathematics, science and history.
• ACARA has specified content and achievement
standards for different subjects within each
learning area.
• Curriculum, assessment and certification
authorities in each state or territory (Board of
Studies in NSW) are responsible for the structure
and organisation of their senior secondary courses,
as well as assessment and certification.
Overview of Senior Secondary Australian Curriculum
• Each subject has been divided into four units.
• Each unit runs for about 50-60 hours, including
assessment, i.e. one half-year semester per unit.
• Units may be studied singly, in pairs (over a year)
or as four units (over two years).
• Each unit identifies particular learning outcomes
for students and content descriptions that outline
the teaching and learning included in the unit.
Overview of Senior Secondary Australian Curriculum
• Draft senior secondary subjects, including content
and achievement standards, will be available for
national consultation until 20 July 2012.
• NSW has not yet committed to using the senior
secondary Australian Curriculum for English,
mathematics, science and history.
• ACARA has said that current courses not covered
by their proposed subjects, e.g. Extension courses,
can still be offered by states.
The consultation process
Key considerations for consultation
 content
 achievement standards
 appropriateness, clarity and pitch
 volume and manageability of the
curriculum
The consultation process
ACARA has invited national consultation on the draft
senior secondary Australian Curriculum: Science
until 20 July 2012.
What is the draft curriculum
structure?
Four proposed senior secondary SCIENCE subjects
Biology
Chemistry
Earth and
Environmental
Science
Physics
Curriculum structure
• Senior subject (Biology, Chemistry, Earth
and Environmental Science, Physics)
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Rationale
Aims
Unit description
Learning Outcomes
Content
Achievement Standards
Glossary
Possible Inquiry Questions
Biology
This subject:
•Develops the understanding of biological systems and the components
of these systems, how matter flows and energy is transferred and
transformed in these systems, the ways in which these systems are
affected by change at different spatial and temporal scales.
Each unit includes:
•Unit descriptions
•Learning outcomes
•Content descriptions
• Science Inquiry Skills (SIS)
• Science Understanding (SU) and Science as a Human Endeavour
(SHE)
Unit structure of Biology
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
• Biodiversity
• Cells and multicellular organisms
• Heredity and continuity of life
• Surviving in a changing environment
Chemistry
This subject:
• Develops the understanding of models of matter and energy
transfers and transformations, the ways in which these models can
be used to describe, explain and predict chemical structures,
processes and systems.
Each unit includes:
• Unit descriptions
• Learning outcomes
• Content descriptions
• Science Inquiry Skills (SIS)
• Science Understanding (SU) and Science as a Human Endeavour
(SHE)
Unit structure of Chemistry
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
• Structure, Properties and Reactions of Materials
• Chemicals in the Environment
• Chemical balance
• Analysis and systems
Earth and Environmental Science
This subject:
• Develops understanding of the Earth system model, the interactions
between the Earth spheres and interaction between Earth processes,
environments and resources are related within the Earth system.
Each unit includes:
• Unit descriptions
• Learning outcomes
• Content descriptions
• Science Inquiry Skills (SIS)
• Science Understanding (SU) and Science as a Human Endeavour
(SHE)
Unit structure of Earth and Environmental
Science
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
• Introduction to Earth systems
• Earth processes- Energy transfers and transformation
• Living on Earth- Extracting, using and managing Earth resources
• The changing Earth- the cause and impact of Earth hazards
Physics
This subject:
• Develop understanding of the core concepts, models and theories
that describe, explain and predict physical phenomena.
Each unit includes:
• Unit descriptions
• Learning outcomes
• Content descriptions
• Science Inquiry Skills (SIS)
• Science Understanding (SU) and Science as a Human Endeavour
(SHE)
Unit structure of Physics
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
•Models in thermal, nuclear and Electrical physics
•Models of motion, waves, sound and light
•From force to field models of gravity and electromagnetism
•Current models of space-time, energy and matter
Contribute to the consultation!
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All Science teachers are encouraged to contribute to the consultation
of the senior secondary curriculum for Science. You can do this as an
individual or as a team.
This is a good opportunity for you to shape the ACARA senior
secondary English curriculum to work for you and your students, if it
is adopted by NSW.
To provide your feedback directly to ACARA, go to
http://consultation.australiancurriculum.edu.au
Contact
Contact details available on the NSW Curriculum and
Learning Innovation Centre website.
http://clic.det.nsw.edu.au/aust_curriculum/contact.htm