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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

7–10Science 7–10 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2026
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Life Skills

Life Skills for Stage 4/5

Through collaborative curriculum planning, it may be decided that Life Skills outcomes and content are the most appropriate option for some students with intellectual disability.

Working scientifically
Observing
  • Use senses to make observations

  • Identify scientific tools and equipment, and their purposes

  • Demonstrate the competency required to use scientific equipment

  • Use scientific equipment to make observations

  • Follow safety rules when using scientific tools and equipment

Questioning and predicting
  • Ask questions about familiar objects and events based on observations

  • Make predictions based on observations

Planning investigations
  • Recognise the purpose of, or question related to, a scientific investigation

  • Recognise which variables are to be changed, kept the same and measured in an investigation

  • Participate in making decisions about how to conduct an investigation

  • Participate in making decisions about the equipment to use for a scientific investigation

  • Participate in sequencing the steps in an investigation and documenting the sequence in an appropriate format

  • Identify practices to improve safety in a scientific investigation

Conducting investigations
  • Gain consent from others to work collaboratively or share scientific equipment

  • Follow a plan to participate in an investigation

  • Implement identified safe practices and follow safety rules

  • Participate in collecting data

  • Engage safely with digital technologies

Processing data and information
  • Record observations and measurements, using appropriate units and abbreviations

  • Select the most appropriate form to organise and represent data and information

  • Extract information from a range of sources, such as direct observations, images, tables, flow diagrams, texts, audiovisual resources and graphs

  • Sort collected data into groups and use appropriate strategies to construct data displays, with or without technology

  • Relate the gathered data and information to questions and predictions

Analysing data and information
  • Identify secondary information sources that can be used in an investigation

  • Recognise patterns or trends in data

  • Interpret data and information gathered

  • Draw conclusions from data and information

  • Reflect on the strengths and limitations of an investigation

Problem-solving
  • Identify problems that can be investigated scientifically

  • Identify strategies that could be used to solve a problem

  • Participate in developing solutions to identified problems

Communicating
  • Recognise scientific language

  • Present ideas and information in a variety of forms, using digital technologies as appropriate

  • Communicate using language appropriate to purpose and audience

Related files