YEAR PRE PRIMARY ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD
By the end of Kindergarten, students participate in guided group investigations. They use appropriate senses to explore and describe phenomena and objects of interest. They ask questions about objects and events in
their familiar environment and describe observations orally and with writing or drawing. They recognise and describe characteristics of their immediate environment including identifying the features, use and
behaviour of familiar living things, materials and objects. They understand that science is about exploring and investigating to answer questions and to find things out. They articulate ideas on how they use science.
SCIENCE INQUIRY SKILLS YEAR PP
1. Questioning
Recognise and identify objects and events of interest in the students'
world and ask questions about them (SKSIS1)

exploring the local environment of their home and school
and describing objects that they use in their everyday life,
and what they are used for
2. Observing
Explore and make observations by using the senses, as appropriate,
during guided investigations (SKSIS2)

using the senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell to
gather information about the world around them
3. Using equipment
Follow directions to use equipment safely (SKSIS3)
4. Communicating
Describe and share observations and ideas using oral language, role
play, and writing and/or drawing (SKSIS4)

using matching activities, including identifying similar
things, odd one out and opposites
SCIENCE AS A HUMAN ENDEAVOUR YEAR PP
1. Nature of science
Scientists are people who explore the world around them and share
information about what they find (SKSHE1)

recognising that scientists make observations and that
observations are an important part of exploring and
investigating
SCIENCE UNDERSTANDING YEAR PP
1. Living things
Features and basic needs of humans and other familiar living things
(SKSU1
* developing curiosity about living things by exploring, identifying
and comparing the main external body parts (features) of humans and
other animals and asking questions about them
* exploring plants, including flowering plants, and recognising and
identifying the main external parts (features)
* exploring the ways humans and other animals use their senses to
be aware of and learn about the world around them
* developing a sense of wonder and excitement about living things
by observing the ways that animals, including humans, move, grow,
eat and use their senses
* investigating and identifying personal needs and those of other
familiar living things
* exploring shelters that animals use and describing and sharing
ideas about ways they meet animals’ needs
* investigating the traditional way Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples meet their needs in the bush
2. The daily environment
Ways the environment influences the daily lives of students (SKSU2)
* recognising and describing obvious events experienced in daily
life (eg day and night, school routines and daily activities)
* asking questions about events and features of the students' world
that interest and affect them (eg weather, day and night, school
environment) and identifying and sharing relevant information
* developing curiosity about the weather through making
observations over a period of time, asking questions and describing
changes in the weather
* identifying differences between day and night, types of weather
and seasonal changes and the ways these affect them (eg effects on
choice of clothing, food, activities)
* investigating the way weather traditionally affected Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples meeting their daily needs
3. Everyday materials
Names and features of everyday objects and materials (SKSU3)
* exploring, recognising and identifying everyday objects and
materials (eg wood, plastic, metal, glass) and asking questions about
the ways they are used
* using the senses to explore features of objects and materials
* developing curiosity through sorting objects and materials into
groups on the basis of their features (eg size, shape, texture, colour)
* sharing experiences and ideas about why materials might have
been selected for particular uses
* exploring local bushland and learning about plants and objects
that were traditionally used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples
4. Movement
Ways in which objects of different shapes and sizes move (SKSU4)
* observing and describing experiences of the movement of
familiar things in the local environment (eg in the classroom, around
the school, around the home)
* developing curiosity and creativity in movement through
manipulating different objects to investigate the ways they move (eg
by pushing, rolling, bouncing, spinning, pouring, sliding)
* identifying and describing positions and movements of objects
including describing locations (eg up, down, behind, in front)
* exploring, asking questions and sharing observations and ideas
about the ways a range of familiar animals move (eg hopping,
swimming, flying, walking)
* investigating and comparing tracks left in the sand or soil by
different things that move