What students learn in AC9S8I02
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test.... 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: 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.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- designing reproducible investigations that specifically test variables of the causal relationship and control the remaining variables identifying assumptions related to testing a hypothesis using analogous models, such as using dialysis tubing to model the properties of plant cell walls or a shake table to model the effects of an earthquake on buildings
- 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: 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
- E1: designing reproducible investigations that specifically test variables of the causal relationship and control the remaining variables
- E2: identifying assumptions related to testing a hypothesis using analogous models, such as using dialysis tubing to model the properties of plant cell walls or a shake table to model the effects of an earthquake on buildings
- E3: explaining why safety procedures address identified risks
- E4: considering ethical issues relating to the access to and use of biological material and secondary data
- E5: acknowledging and recognising First Nations Australians’ artefacts and heritage sites of significance such as ceremonial grounds and traditional quarries, and ensuring they cause no harm to heritage sites and artefacts (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
AC9S8I02 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 | AC9S8I02 — 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 |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Year 8 Science: closest match in Planning and conducting. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Stage 4 Science: closest content focus for Plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test... and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Grade 8 NGSS science closest topic match for Plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test.... |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 3 / Year 8: closest programme-of-study match for Plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test.... |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Grade 8 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 4 Science: closest achievement-objective topic for Plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test.... |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Class 8 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test.... |