What students learn in AC9SFI02
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses. The goal is not to memorise one answer pattern. Students should be able to explain the idea, recognise it in a new example and apply it in a short practice or worksheet task.
- Start with the main idea: engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- discussing ways to conduct investigations safely, such as by being sun safe, not running with equipment, not tasting objects or materials, and following teacher instructions explaining safety considerations for using the senses of touch, smell, sight and hearing, and discussing why we do not use taste to make observations in science
- Finish with mixed questions so students must choose the correct strategy rather than copy the last example.
Curriculum coverage and elaborations
The content description and elaborations below show the curriculum ideas taught in this unit. Items marked as teaching context support lesson planning but may not appear in the initial eight-question activity.
- Content description: engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses
- E1: discussing ways to conduct investigations safely, such as by being sun safe, not running with equipment, not tasting objects or materials, and following teacher instructions
- E2: explaining safety considerations for using the senses of touch, smell, sight and hearing, and discussing why we do not use taste to make observations in science
- E3: using provided tools such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, digital photography or video to enhance their observations of plants and animals
- E4: recording observations using numbers, dots, drawings, voice recordings, digital photography or video
How to use this unit
Read the topic guide, use the teacher slide for instruction, then complete the Worksheet, Practice and Test. These three activities use the same eight-question unit bank.
Teacher resource
AC9SFI02 teacher slide
Use this one-page PDF to introduce the key idea, vocabulary and teaching sequence before students begin the activities.
Open teacher slide (PDF)Common mistakes to watch for
- Describing what is seen without connecting it to a question, pattern or prediction.
- Using everyday words only and missing simple scientific vocabulary.
- Changing more than one thing in an investigation, which makes the comparison unfair.
International curriculum mapping
This table gives closest-topic mapping for search and planning. The Australian Curriculum code is exact; overseas entries are broad equivalents because each jurisdiction structures outcomes differently.
| Region | Curriculum | Closest mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Curriculum v9.0 | AC9SFI02 — engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Foundation Science: closest match in Planning and conducting. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Early Stage 1 Science: closest content focus for Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Kindergarten NGSS science closest topic match for Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses. |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 1 / Year 1: closest programme-of-study match for Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses. |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Kindergarten closest topic match. Canada varies by province, so use this as a broad Ontario/BC-style learning outcome reference. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Curriculum | Level 1 Science: closest achievement-objective topic for Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses. |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Kindergarten / Foundation closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses. |