Energy - Unit Outline
Saturday, 24 August 2013
6:18 PM
Rationale
Energy is all around us in our everyday life and has a great influence on many of the decisions we have to make for our own future and the future of the world. By understanding the forms of energy and how they are transferred and transformed students can develop skills that they will need in their daily life. To be able to understand the energy requirements of their bodies and what they need to eat to meet those requirements and understanding energy efficiency ratings on electronic appliances are just two examples of when students will need a conceptual understanding of energy in their life.  The learning foci for this unit are:
Energy is all around us in many forms and is what is responsible for making things happen
Things happen through a transfer or transformation of energy, some transfers and transformations are more efficient than others. 
Energy used in daily life come from energy sources, these can be either renewable or non-renewable
If students can grasp these concepts of energy they will have the understanding and skills to make informed decisions about issues involving energy both personally and in a wider context. 
Curriculum - AUSVELS
Strand
Curriculum Statement
Illustration
Science Understanding
Physical Sciences
Energy appears in different forms including movement (kinetic energy), heat and potential energy, and causes change within systems
Students had to identify forms of energy and explain how it causes change in a system.
Science as a Human Endeavour
Use and Influence of Science
Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations
Students investigated the issue of renewable energy and how science is enabling us to solve the problem of limited resources.
Science Inquiry Skills
Communicating
Communicate ideas, findings and solutions to problems using scientific language and representations using digital technologies as appropriate
Students had to communicate, in their own words, the scientific ideas and solutions to this issue and use a variety of representations to do so. They also had to research and create their posters using ICT resources.