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Depth Study Module 1 - Scientific Models

Lesson Overview:

Resource overview

Models are being used in many areas of the forestry industry to improve outcomes in areas such as yield, environmental impacts, assessment of carbon capture and predicting continued sustainability in climate change conditions.

This three part series aims to highlight the importance of modeling in science and can be used to target the requirements of the NESA Depth Study.

Module 1 - explores teacher centered modeling of the outcomes of the Theory of Evidence for Plate Tectonics and also includes a case study on the use of modeling within the production of forestry materials. Included in the module, is a sequence of activities about models and also a scaffold for students to assess their understanding of theory comparing the strategies of learning via predominately text based data with that of their teacher’s use of models.

Module 2- targets the skills of students teaching using modeling based on the content outcomes of plate boundaries.

Module 3 - is based on the outcomes of gaining a knowledge and understanding of the causes of salinity and erosion and rehabilitation of these areas with a focus on forestry solutions and case studies.

 

Strand Content Descriptions:

• Develop and evaluate inquiry questions and hypotheses to identify a concept that can be investigated scientifically, involving primary and secondary data
• Select, construct and use appropriate representations (models), to communicate conceptual understanding
• Select and apply appropriate scientific notations, nomenclature and scientific language to communicate in a variety of contexts
• Construct evidence-based arguments and engage in peer feedback to evaluate an argument or conclusion
• Select qualitative and quantitative data and information and represent them using a range of formats, digital technologies and appropriate media
• Analyse evidence, including data and models, that supports the theory of plate tectonics, including but not limited to:

- the ‘jigsaw fit’ of the continental shelves
- matching up identical fossils on different continents
- the profile of the ocean floor (NESA)
- the age of sea floor rocks
- magnetic reversals in sea floor rocks

Year Level/s:

11

Key Curriculum Areas / Subject:

Earth and Environmental Science

National Curriculum Codes:

ACSES001, ACSES004, ACSES006, ACSES007, ACSES008, ACSES024 , ACSES034, ACSES035, ACSES036, ACSES060, ACSES061, ACSES064, ACSES067, ACSES070, ACSES096, ACSES099, ACSES101, ACSES102

Strand Content Description:

Earth and Environmental Science

• ACSES001 - Identify, research and construct questions for investigation; propose hypotheses; and predict possible outcomes (ACSES001)
• ACSES004 - Represent data in meaningful and useful ways; organise and analyse data to identify trends, patterns and relationships; qualitatively describe sources of measurement error, and uncertainty and limitations in data; and select, synthesise and use evidence to make and justify conclusions (ACSES004)
• ACSES006 - Select, construct and use appropriate representations, including maps and cross sections to describe and analyse spatial relationships, and stratigraphy and isotopic half-life data to infer the age of rocks and fossils, to communicate conceptual understanding, solve problems and make predictions (ACSES006)
• ACSES007 - Communicate to specific audiences and for specific purposes using appropriate language, genres and modes, including compilations of field data and research reports (ACSES007)
• ACSES008 - Science is a global enterprise that relies on clear communication, international conventions, peer review and reproducibility (ACSES008)
• ACSES024 - Water’s unique properties, including its boiling point, density in solid and liquid phase, surface tension and its ability to act a solvent, and its abundance at the surface of Earth make it an important component of Earth system processes (for example, precipitation, ice sheet formation, evapotranspiration, solution of salts) (ACSES024)
• ACSES034 - Interpret a range of scientific and media texts and evaluate processes, claims and conclusions by considering the quality of available evidence; use reasoning to construct scientific arguments (ACSES034)
• ACSES035 - Select, construct and use appropriate representations, including maps and other spatial representations, diagrams and flow charts, to communicate conceptual understanding, solve problems and make predictions (ACSES035)
• ACSES036 - Communicate to specific audiences and for specific purposes using appropriate language, genres and modes, including compilations of field data and research reports (ACSES036)
• ACSES060 - Represent data in meaningful and useful ways; organise and analyse data to identify trends, patterns and relationships; discuss the ways in which measurement error and instrumental accuracy and the nature of the procedure and sample size may influence uncertainty and limitations in data; and select, synthesise and use evidence to make and justify conclusions (ACSES060)
• ACSES061 - Interpret a range of scientific and media texts and evaluate processes, claims and conclusions by considering the quality of available evidence, including interpreting confidence intervals in secondary data; use reasoning to construct scientific arguments (ACSES061)
• ACSES064 - ICT and other technologies have dramatically increased the size, accuracy and geographic and temporal scope of data sets with which scientists work (ACSES064)
• ACSES067 - People can use scientific knowledge to inform the monitoring, assessment and evaluation of risk (ACSES067)
• ACSES070 - Scientific knowledge can be used to develop and evaluate projected economic, social and environmental impacts and to design action for sustainability .
• ACSES096 - International collaboration is often required when investing in large scale science projects or addressing issues for the Asia-Pacific region (ACSES096)
• ACSES099 - Plate tectonic processes generate earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis; the occurrence of these events affects other Earth processes and interactions (for example, ash clouds influence global weather) (ACSES099)
• ACSES101 - Major weather systems generate cyclones, flood events and droughts; the occurrence of these events affects other Earth processes and interactions (for example, habitat destruction, ecosystem regeneration) (ACSES101)
• ACSES102 - Human activities, including land clearing, can contribute to the frequency, magnitude and intensity of some natural hazards (for example, drought, flood, bushfire, landslides) at local and regional scales (ACSES102)

General Capabilities:

Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Literacy, Numeracy, Personal and Social Capabilities

Cross Curriculum Priorities:

Sustainability

Curriculum Connections:

Science - Earth and Environmental Science

ScOT Catalogue Terms:

Forestry, Fossils, Modelling, Models, Plate tectonics, Rock layers, Rock strata, Rocks, Scientific applications, Tectonics

Theme/s:

Forests - Ecology and Natural Processes, Forestry - Sustainability and Certification, Forestry Products - Processing and Technology, Forest Futures - Carbon Renewable Resources and Innovation

Resource Type/s:

Primary: Activity

Secondary: Depth Study

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