Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 6 Science
A comprehensive year of scientific discovery focusing on how biological, chemical, and physical systems interact. Students engage in evidence based inquiry to understand the changing Earth and the energy that powers our modern lives.
01Biological Adaptations and Survival
Students investigate how living things have structural features and adaptations that help them survive in specific environments.
Examining how the physical bodies of plants and animals are built for their specific habitats.
Exploring the actions and instincts organisms use to respond to environmental challenges.
Analyzing how changes to physical conditions in a habitat affect the species living there.
Investigating the flow of energy through ecosystems and the interdependence of living things.
Exploring the stages of life for different organisms and methods of reproduction.
Understanding how scientists group organisms based on shared characteristics.
Investigating how plants adapt their structures and functions to survive in diverse environments like deserts, rainforests, and wetlands.
Exploring how animals use camouflage and mimicry to hide from predators or ambush prey.
02The Dynamic Earth
An exploration of the sudden geological changes caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis on the Earth's surface.
Understanding the movement of the Earth's crust and the formation of major landforms.
Investigating the causes and immediate effects of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Tracing the energy transfer from underwater seismic activity to coastal waves.
Exploring the processes that break down and transport Earth's surface materials.
Understanding how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are formed and transformed over geological time.
03Electrical Circuits and Energy
Students build and test electrical circuits while exploring how energy can be transferred and transformed.
Identifying the essential parts of a circuit and their roles in controlling electricity.
Observing how electrical energy changes into light, sound, heat, and movement.
Evaluating different methods of generating electricity and their environmental impacts.
Exploring the properties of magnets and how electricity can create magnetic fields.
Investigating the properties of light and sound as forms of energy.
Building and comparing simple series and parallel circuits to understand current flow and voltage distribution.
04Reversible and Irreversible Changes
A chemistry focused unit exploring how substances react and whether they can be returned to their original state.
Distinguishing between changes in state and the formation of new substances.
Investigating how substances dissolve and how they can be recovered from solutions.
Studying the irreversible effects of oxygen on different materials.
Introducing the concepts of acids and bases and their properties.
Understanding the different states of matter and how particles behave.
05The Solar System and Beyond
Understanding the scale of our solar system and the celestial bodies within it.
Comparing the physical features and conditions of planets in our solar system.
Exploring the forces that keep planets and moons in motion.
Analyzing how technology allows us to observe and learn about distant parts of the universe.
Learning about the life cycle of stars and how constellations are used for navigation and storytelling.
Understanding the causes of the Moon's phases and the phenomena of eclipses.
Exploring the characteristics and origins of smaller celestial bodies in our solar system.
06Science as a Human Endeavor
Examining how scientific knowledge is built over time and how it influences community decisions.
Investigating how historical breakthroughs have changed our understanding of the world.
Using scientific thinking to address issues like waste, energy, and health.
Discussing the responsibility of scientists and the impact of their work on society.
Learning the steps of the scientific method and designing fair tests.
Developing skills to collect, organize, and interpret scientific data.
Learning how to effectively present scientific findings and arguments to different audiences.
07Human Body Systems
An introduction to the major systems of the human body and how they work together.
Exploring how bones and muscles provide support and allow movement.
Tracing the path of food through the body and how nutrients are absorbed.
Understanding how blood circulates and how we breathe.
Investigating how the brain, spinal cord, and nerves control body functions.
Exploring the importance of nutrition, exercise, and hygiene for maintaining healthy body systems.
08Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Exploring different types of ecosystems and the importance of maintaining biodiversity.
Identifying and comparing different terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Understanding the variety of life on Earth and why it matters.
Investigating efforts to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable practices.
Deepening understanding of how energy flows through complex food webs and the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Exploring how organisms survive in challenging environments such as deserts, polar regions, and deep oceans.