Science

What is science?

Science fosters students' curiosity, imagination and knowledge to enhance their understanding of the natural and physical world around them. Scientific thinking and problem solving are used to explain how things work, or to understand why things are the way they are.

Science is a broad field of study that draws from disciplines including biology, physics, chemistry, earth science, agriculture, marine studies and horticulture.

What does science mean for students?

Science provides students with an opportunity to:

understand the changing world around them
make informed decisions in their daily lives about both the environment and their own health and wellbeing¹
identify and investigate questions and draw conclusions based on evidence
communicate their knowledge and findings using scientific language

Queensland curriculum for science

The Queensland science curriculum is specified in the following documents:

Early Years Curriculum Guidelines - Prep
QCAR Framework - Years 1-9
Year 10 Guidelines - Year 10
QSA senior syllabuses for the sciences - Years 11 and 12

Australian Curriculum for science

The Australian Curriculum will replace the Queensland curriculum as it becomes available.

Science is part of Phase 1 of the Australian Curriculum.

Schedule for Queensland implementation - Prep (K) to Year 10

2011

Prepare for the Australian Curriculum for science

2012

Teach, assess and report on the Australian Curriculum for science

Education Queensland is working with the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) and the other schooling sectors on a shared plan for implementing the Australian Curriculum for science in Years Prep (K) to 10.

For more information visit the QSA website .

¹ Source: ACARA: National Science Curriculum Framing Paper, 2008, p 2

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This page was last reviewed on 05 Oct 2010