Year 7 Science

Year 7 Science skills

Find the exact skill a learner needs, understand it clearly and open the right teaching or practice resource.

Skill navigator

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Skills are grouped by curriculum strand. Exact Australian Curriculum wording remains available on every card.

Science understanding

6 skills
AC9S7U01

Science understanding

Biological Classification and Dichotomous Keys

Learn how scientists organise biodiversity, identify organisms with dichotomous keys, use scientific names and revise classifications when new evidence becomes available

ExampleWhat is the main reason scientists classify living things?

Official curriculum wording

investigate the role of classification in ordering and organising the diversity of life on Earth and use and develop classification tools including dichotomous keys

AC9S7U02

Science understanding

Food Webs, Energy Flow and Ecosystem Change

Use food-web models to trace matter and energy, then predict how changes to organisms and environmental conditions can affect populations across an ecosystem

ExampleWhat does a food web model?

Official curriculum wording

use models, including food webs, to represent matter and energy flow in ecosystems and predict the impact of changing abiotic and biotic factors on populations

AC9S7U03

Science understanding

Earth, Sun & Moon Cycles

Use models of changing Earth–Sun–Moon positions to explain seasons, tides, lunar phases and eclipses, and evaluate what those models can and cannot show

ExampleWhat is the main cause of Earth's seasons?

Official curriculum wording

model cyclic changes in the relative positions of the Earth, sun and moon and explain how these cycles cause eclipses and influence predictable phenomena on Earth, including seasons and tides

AC9S7U04

Science understanding

Forces, Motion, Gravity and Simple Machines

Investigate balanced and unbalanced forces, represent force magnitude and direction, relate changes in motion to mass and net force, and apply force ideas to gravity…

ExampleBalanced forces act on an object. What must be true about its velocity?

Official curriculum wording

investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force, acting on objects, and relate changes in an object’s motion to its mass and the magnitude and direction of forces acting on it

AC9S7U05

Science understanding

Particle Theory, States of Matter & Diffusion

Explain how particle arrangement, motion, energy and attraction account for the properties of solids, liquids and gases, changes of state, density, compressibility and…

ExampleWhich particle description best represents a solid?

Official curriculum wording

use particle theory to describe the arrangement of particles in a substance, including the motion of and attraction between particles, and relate this to the properties of the substance

AC9S7U06

Science understanding

Pure Substances, Mixtures & Separation Techniques

Use particle models to distinguish pure substances from mixtures, identify solutes and solvents, and choose separation techniques by the physical-property differences…

ExampleA particle diagram shows identical particles throughout the sample. What does this most directly represent?

Official curriculum wording

use a particle model to describe differences between pure substances and mixtures and apply understanding of properties of substances to separate mixtures

Science as a human endeavour

4 skills
AC9S7H01

Science as a human endeavour

How new evidence and different perspectives change scientific knowledge

Science is evidence-based but not fixed. Explanations are tested and refined when stronger evidence becomes available or different perspectives contribute useful…

ExampleA new fossil has features that look partly like an older reptile group and partly like early birds. What is the strongest scientific response?

Official curriculum wording

explain how new evidence or different perspectives can lead to changes in scientific knowledge

AC9S7H02

Science as a human endeavour

How cultural perspectives and world views influence scientific knowledge

Science is evidence-based, but it is also a human endeavour. Culture, values, ethics and world views can influence which questions people ask, which knowledge is shared…

ExampleWhich statement best explains how cultural perspectives can influence scientific knowledge?

Official curriculum wording

investigate how cultural perspectives and world views influence the development of scientific knowledge

AC9S7H03

Science as a human endeavour

Scientific responses to contemporary issues: benefits, risks and trade-offs

A scientific response can solve one problem while creating other consequences. AC9S7H03 asks students to examine evidence and then weigh ethical, environmental, social…

ExampleWhy do larger ecological reserves often better support ecosystem function?

Official curriculum wording

examine how proposed scientific responses to contemporary issues may impact on society and explore ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations

AC9S7H04

Science as a human endeavour

Science communication: viewpoints, policies and regulations

Explore how clear, evidence-based and culturally respectful science communication can influence what people think and how communities develop policies and regulations

ExampleWhat is the main purpose of science communication?

Official curriculum wording

explore the role of science communication in informing individual viewpoints and community policies and regulations

Science inquiry

8 skills
AC9S7I01

Science inquiry

Investigable Questions, Reasoned Predictions and Hypotheses

Core idea: strong investigations begin with clear questions. Students decide whether questions can be investigated through systematic evidence, use models and prior…

ExampleWhich question is most clearly investigable using systematic evidence?

Official curriculum wording

develop investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses to explore scientific models, identify patterns and test relationships

AC9S7I02

Science inquiry

Plan and conduct reproducible investigations

Plan investigations that genuinely test hypotheses, identify variables and assumptions, manage risks and ethics, and recognise responsibilities for heritage sites and…

ExampleWhich variable is deliberately changed in a fair investigation?

Official curriculum wording

plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test hypotheses, including identifying variables and assumptions and, as appropriate, recognising and managing risks, considering ethical issues and recognising key considerations regarding heritage sites and artefacts on Country/Place

AC9S7I03

Science inquiry

Select and use equipment to generate and record data with precision, using digital tools as appropriate

Choose appropriate scientific equipment, collect precise data and record it clearly

ExampleWhich thermometer is most suitable for water expected to heat from 22°C to 65°C?

Official curriculum wording

select and use equipment to generate and record data with precision, using digital tools as appropriate

AC9S7I04

Science inquiry

Select and construct appropriate representations to organise and process data and information

Choose the representation that matches the data, purpose and scientific meaning—then construct and interpret it accurately

ExampleWhat is the main purpose of selecting an appropriate scientific representation?

Official curriculum wording

select and construct appropriate representations, including tables, graphs, models and mathematical relationships, to organise and process data and information

AC9S7I05

Science inquiry

Analyse data and information to describe patterns, trends and relationships and identify anomalies

This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Analyse data and information to describe patterns, trends and relationships and identify anomalies . The…

ExampleA Year 7 student is investigating calculate a mean. Which option is scientifically valid and best supported?

Official curriculum wording

analyse data and information to describe patterns, trends and relationships and identify anomalies

AC9S7I06

Science inquiry

Analyse methods, conclusions and claims for assumptions, possible sources of error, conflicting evidence and unanswered questions

Judge how trustworthy scientific evidence is—not just whether a result matches a prediction

ExampleWhich result set is the strongest indicator of precise repeated measurements?

Official curriculum wording

analyse methods, conclusions and claims for assumptions, possible sources of error, conflicting evidence and unanswered questions

AC9S7I07

Science inquiry

Construct evidence-based arguments to support conclusions or evaluate claims and consider ethical issues and cultural protocols when using secondary information

Build arguments from evidence, judge source credibility, qualify conclusions, and use First Nations knowledge respectfully and ethically

ExampleWhat is the main purpose of evidence in a scientific argument?

Official curriculum wording

construct evidence-based arguments to support conclusions or evaluate claims and consider any ethical issues and cultural protocols associated with using or citing secondary data or information

AC9S7I08

Science inquiry

Write and create texts to communicate ideas, findings and arguments for specific purposes and audiences

Choose language, structure, representations and digital tools that help a particular audience understand accurate science

ExampleWhat is the main purpose of a scientific investigation report?

Official curriculum wording

write and create texts to communicate ideas, findings and arguments for specific purposes and audiences, including selection of appropriate language and text features, using digital tools as appropriate