Year(s)

Level(s)

Duration

Teacher

Classroom

8

Select the Strand(s) and the Achievement Objectives to be assessed

o  Nature of Science

Understanding about science

Students will understand that scientists have an obligation to connect their new ideas to current and historical scientific knowledge and to

present their findings for peer review and debate.

Investigating in science

Students will develop and carry out investigations that extend their science knowledge, including developing their understanding of the

relationship between investigations and scientific theories.

Communicating in science

Students will use accepted science knowledge, vocabulary, symbols, and conventions when evaluating accounts of the natural world and

considering the wider implications of the methods used for their communication/representation.

Participating and contributing

Students will use relevant information to develop a coherent understanding of socio-scientific issues that concern them and to identify

possible responses at both personal and societal levels.

o  Living World

Life, ecology, and evolution

Understand the relationship between organisms and their environment.

Explore the evolutionary processes that have resulted in the diversity of life on Earth and appreciate the place and impact of humans within these processes.

Understand how humans manipulate the transfer of genetic information from one generation to the next and make informed judgments about the social, ethical, and biological implications relating to this manipulation.

o  Planet earth and Beyond

Earth cycles

Understand the cyclic nature of plate tectonics and use this to investigate aspects of New Zealand’s geological history.

Astronomical cycles

Use the concepts of distance, time, and gravity to explore information about galaxies and the universe.

Interacting cycles

Develop an in-depth understanding of the interrelationship between human activities and natural cycles.

o Physical World

Physical enquiry and physical concepts

Apply their understanding of physical phenomena and concepts to produce qualitative and quantitative explanations of a variety of complex situations.

Analyse and evaluate data to deduce complex trends and relationships in physical phenomena.

Using physics

Critically analyse issues related to environmental and/or technological applications of physics.

o Material World

Properties of materials

Investigate the properties of a group of related substances and evaluate the way in which these substances are used and issues arising from their use.

Chemical reactions

Investigate and classify a wide range of chemical reactions (including qualitative and quantitative analyses) and explore ways in which chemical ideas are used to solve issues in today’s society.

Particles

Use atomic theory to explain periodic trends in the properties of elements and compounds. Integrate appropriate chemical conventions into the communication of their ideas.

Specific Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

Additional Curriculum areas

o Technology  

o Learning Languages 

o Arts           

o Mathematics  

o Te Reo        

o English  

o Social Sciences

o Health and P.E.

Write the Achievement Objective (s) to be assessed:

Students will:

Specific Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

Setting

oNew Zealand   oRekohu (The Chatham Islands)   oAsia 

oAustralia         oAmericas                                oGlobal

Perspective:        o Multicultural         oHistory   oEquality              oRights 

                               oIndigenous people  oGender    oCurrent Issues   oThe Future.

Key Competencies focus:

(Select only those being focussed on)

o managing self

o relating to others

o participating and contributing

o thinking

o using language, symbols, and texts.

Teaching and Learning Activities

Resources

Assessment Schedule

Unit Evaluation