What students learn in AC9S3I02
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions.... 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: use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- collaboratively identifying and ordering the steps in an investigation using a provided framework or graphic organiser to plan and identify what to change, what to keep the same and what to measure to make a test fair
- 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: use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment
- E1: collaboratively identifying and ordering the steps in an investigation
- E2: using a provided framework or graphic organiser to plan and identify what to change, what to keep the same and what to measure to make a test fair
- E3: examining an example of a soil profile after soil has settled in water and planning an investigation to compare and contrast the components and particle sizes of different soils
- E4: planning an investigation to determine which material is the best to keep substances cold
- E5: discussing safety rules to follow when conducting investigations, such as following teacher instructions, manipulating equipment and materials with care and wearing appropriate personal safety gear, such as gloves, safety goggles and face masks when handling soils
- E6: consulting with First Nations Australians to guide the planning of scientific investigations, including safety considerations for field investigations (teaching context)
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
AC9S3I02 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 | AC9S3I02 — use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Year 3 Science: closest match in Planning and conducting. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Stage 2 Science: closest content focus for Provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions... and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Grade 3 NGSS science closest topic match for Provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions.... |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 2 / Year 3: closest programme-of-study match for Provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions.... |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Grade 3 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 2 Science: closest achievement-objective topic for Provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions.... |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Class 3 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions.... |