Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 7 Science
This course introduces students to the foundational principles of scientific inquiry through the study of biological classification, gravitational forces, and chemical separations. Students develop skills in experimental design and data analysis while exploring the interconnectedness of Earth systems and the diversity of life.
01The Art of Classification
Students explore the diversity of living things and how scientists use classification systems to organize and communicate information about the natural world.
Students will explore the historical development and importance of classifying living organisms.
Students will learn about the Linnaean system of classification (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species) and its application.
Students will practice creating and using dichotomous keys to identify unknown organisms based on observable characteristics.
Students will explore the three domains (Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya) and the major kingdoms within Eukarya (Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia).
Students will investigate the concept of biodiversity and its importance within various ecosystems.
Students will construct and analyze food chains and food webs to understand energy flow and interdependencies within ecosystems.
Students will explore how organisms develop specific adaptations to survive and thrive in their particular environments.
Students will investigate different types of interactions between organisms, such as competition, predation, and symbiosis.
Students will investigate various human activities that impact ecosystems, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.
Students will explore strategies for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable practices to protect ecosystems.
02Mixtures and Pure Substances
An investigation into the composition of matter and the physical techniques used to separate complex mixtures into their components.
Students will review the three states of matter and apply the particle theory to explain their properties.
Students will differentiate between elements, compounds, and mixtures based on their composition and properties.
Students will classify mixtures as homogeneous or heterogeneous and identify examples of each.
Students will investigate the process of dissolving, factors affecting solubility, and the concept of saturated solutions.
Students will learn and apply filtration and decantation to separate insoluble solids from liquids.
Students will explore evaporation and distillation as methods for separating soluble solids from liquids and liquids from other liquids.
Students will investigate chromatography as a method for separating components of a mixture based on their differential movement through a stationary phase.
03Forces in Motion
Students explore the invisible pulls and pushes that govern the movement of objects, focusing on gravity and magnetism.
Students will define force as a push or pull, identify different types of forces, and understand how forces cause changes in motion.
Students will investigate gravity as a non-contact force, exploring factors affecting its strength and its role in the solar system.
Students will explore friction and air resistance as forces that oppose motion, and investigate factors that affect their magnitude.
Students will investigate the properties of magnets, magnetic poles, and the concept of magnetic fields.
Students will explore the relationship between electricity and magnetism, and construct simple electromagnets.
Students will investigate how levers and pulleys change the magnitude or direction of forces to make work easier.
Students will explore inclined planes, wedges, screws, and wheels and axles as simple machines.
04Earth, Moon, and Sun
A study of the celestial cycles that create our days, years, seasons, and tides.
Students will explain how Earth's rotation causes day and night and its revolution around the Sun defines a year.
Students will investigate how Earth's axial tilt and orbit around the Sun cause the seasons.
Students will explain the changing appearance of the Moon as it orbits Earth.
Students will investigate the conditions required for solar and lunar eclipses and differentiate between them.
Students will explore how the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun causes tides on Earth.
Students will identify the planets in our solar system and explore basic characteristics of other celestial objects like asteroids, comets, and stars.
Students will examine key milestones in space exploration, from early astronomy to modern missions.
05Water as a Resource
An analysis of the water cycle and the management of water as a precious global resource.
Students will trace the movement of water through its various stages and reservoirs in the water cycle.
Students will investigate different sources of fresh water and how it is distributed globally and locally.
Students will explore the various stages involved in treating raw water to make it safe for consumption.
Students will evaluate different strategies for conserving water in homes, agriculture, and industry.
Students will investigate how land use and human activities within a catchment area affect water quality and ecosystem health.
Students will explore the role of ocean currents in distributing heat around the globe and influencing climate patterns.
Students will investigate the diversity of marine life and the threats posed by human activities to ocean health.
06Scientific Investigations
Students apply the scientific method to design and conduct their own independent research projects.
Students will learn to formulate testable questions and construct clear, falsifiable hypotheses.
Students will identify independent, dependent, and controlled variables and design fair tests.
Students will practice collecting both quantitative and qualitative data accurately and organizing it effectively.
Students will analyze collected data, identify patterns, and formulate conclusions supported by evidence.
Students will learn to choose appropriate graph types and construct clear, labeled graphs to represent data.
Students will critically evaluate experimental designs, data reliability, and the validity of conclusions.
Students will present scientific findings using various formats, including written reports and oral presentations.
07Energy and Its Transformations
Students will explore different forms of energy, how energy is transformed, and the principle of energy conservation.
Students will identify and describe various forms of energy, including kinetic, potential, thermal, light, sound, and electrical energy.
Students will investigate how energy can be transformed from one form to another, often with some energy lost as heat.
Students will explore the three main methods of heat transfer and identify examples in daily life.
Students will investigate the properties of sound as a form of energy, including how it is produced, travels, and is perceived.
Students will explore light as a form of energy, its properties, and how it interacts with surfaces through reflection.
Students will compare and contrast different energy sources, evaluating their environmental impacts and sustainability.
08Cells and Body Systems
Students will investigate the basic unit of life, the cell, and how cells are organized into tissues, organs, and body systems.
Students will identify the cell as the basic unit of life and differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Students will identify and compare the main organelles in plant and animal cells and their functions.
Students will understand how cells are organized into tissues, organs, and organ systems to perform complex functions.
Students will investigate the structure and function of the human digestive system.
Students will explore the structure and function of the human respiratory system, focusing on gas exchange.
Students will investigate the components and function of the human circulatory system, including the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
Students will learn about the basic structure and function of the human nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.