| Overview | Rationale | Framework | Syllabus | Resources | Assessment |

Unit: Space

Assumed knowledge and skills:

• computer skills of building databases: creating folders, recording the folder’s pathway for future lessons, creating a document, saving, printing, downloading images.
• awareness of copyright laws and referencing protocols for bibliographies.

Task and assessment information

Each team or group will present a written and oral presentation for the expo. The purpose of the presentation is to brief an adult audience on a space trip to a destination in the solar system. The choice of destination is with the group.

The group will focus on what it would be like to get there, what problems are presented by the journey, how these will be overcome and what it will be like on the planet. The presentation must include an account of how and why the space vehicle will need to use force to escape the Earth’s gravitational field and what challenges will confront the vehicle as it approaches its destination.

Student groups will have the option of choosing the written format in which they wish to present their expo material, i.e. table, written report, database. Each presentation will include a glossary or explanatory footnotes and must be accompanied by a model or physical display. Examples of possible models or displays include:

• the solar system to scale
• demonstration of planet orbits
• demonstration of vehicle launch, travel path and orbit.

Since the presentations aim to improve the scientific literacy of both students and their audience, teachers should ensure that students understand the difference between a fanciful travel report or brochure and a factual information report. The kind of writing and oral presentations required by this unit will necessitate the use of scientific language structures and terminology. Students will be provided with a detailed task sheet outlining the written task, possible resources and assessment criteria in terms of knowledge and understandings and skills.

Prescribed focus areas to be addressed include the history of science and the nature and practice of science:

• 4.1 identifies historical examples of how scientific knowledge has changed our understanding of the world.
• 4.2 A student uses examples to illustrate how models, theories and laws contribute to an understanding of phenomena.

The Domain of this unit of work includes:

• knowledge and understandings about models, theories and laws.
• 4.9 A student describes the dynamic structure of Earth and its relationship to other parts of our solar system and universe.
• 4.6 A student identifies and describes energy changes and the action of forces in common situations.
• Skills in processing and presenting information and thinking critically:
  • 4.17 A student evaluates the relevance of data and information.
  • 4.18 A student, with guidance, presents information to an audience to achieve a particular outcome
  • 4.19 A student draws conclusions based on information available
  • 4.22 A student completes a variety of individual and team tasks with guidance.
• Values and attitudes:
  • 4/5.26 A student recognises the role of science in providing information about issues being considered and in increasing an understanding of the world

| Overview | Rationale | Framework | Syllabus | Resources | Assessment |