Science (Foundation)
T1 T2 T3 T4 Science Understanding Biological sciences Living things have basic needs, including food and water Activities Suitable Topics/Themes Garden Zoo Farm Space
Growing seeds and plants Classroom pets Hatching eggs Studying life cycle of butterflies, frogs, brine shrimp etc Studying insects Learning about animals, their characteristics, groups, habitat, etc What do we need to stay alive (e.g. in space)
Chemical sciences Objects are made of materials that have observable properties
When doing construction activities discuss which materials would be most appropriate (what shall we make our boats from, what should we use for our bridge). Discuss why certain objects are made from the materials they are (umbrellas are made from waterproof materials). Discuss what happens when inappropriate materials are used (incorporate with language and song). Construction play outside (how will be build it, what is best to make it from)
Sea Rain/Water Space Fairy Tales
Earth and space sciences Daily and seasonal changes in our environment, including the weather, affect everyday life
Discussions of the seasons and the characteristics of each one. Discussion about the changes both in the environment and our behaviour due to the weather and seasons. Observing how the animals and plants around us respond to changes in the weather and seasons (e.g. snails come out when it rains and seal themselves in during hot weather, leaves fall from some trees, frogs sing when it rains) Noongar seasons
Gardens Zoo Farm Noongar Incidental
Physical sciences The way objects move depends on a variety of factors, including their size and shape
Experimenting with the movement of a wide variety of objects(balls, marbles, ping pong balls, tubes, blocks, tunnels, barrels, cotton reels, piping, kites) in a wide variety of settings (in the classroom, sandpit, grassed hill, slide, swings) in both directed and undirected situations. Use construction materials to build structures that move and observe how successful they are (cars, boats, kites, planes). Observe the differences in movements of animals and how this is dependent of their size, shape and purpose.
Vehicles Space Sea Zoo Farm Garden
Science as a Human Endeavour Nature and development of science Science involves exploring and observing the world using the senses
Explicit teaching about the senses and how to discuss objects and Dinosaurs experiences using these. Water Discussions of events and objects involving the students Space observations. Exploring and observing using hearing, smell, touch, sight and taste. Follow up cooking activities and experiments with discussions about observations. Involve the children in activities which help them explore their world and the materials in it (flubber, ooblek, bicarb/vinegar volcanoes or drawing, growing crystals, substances melting/freezing, floating/sinking, etc)
Science Inquiry Skills Questioning and predicting Respond to questions about familiar objects and events
Integration into language where this is constantly addressed All topics and Ask children to predict what will occur before starting an activity areas (e.g. in cooking or art where a change will occur or an event happen)
Planning and conducting Explore and make observations by using the senses
Encourage the students to use sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell All topic and to gather information about the world around them. areas Sensory play Sandplay Waterplay Cooking
Processing and analysing data and information Engage in discussions about observations and use methods such as drawing to represent ideas
Informal and guided discussions relating to the students observations. Students draw or write what they observe and discuss these with others (e.g. draw the stages of growth in a plant, draw the parts of an object or animal, draw the steps in an activity)
All topics and areas
Communicating Share observations and ideas
Students share their ideas through discussion, drawing, writing, graphing, counting and role play. Students use photographs or video to share their discoveries.
All topics and areas
Foundation Year achievement standard By the end of the Foundation year students make observations of familiar objects and materials and explore their properties and behaviour. They suggest how the environment affects them and other living things.
