Practical assessment

Stage 4 Working Scientifically

Outcomes
Values and attitudes
SC4-1VA appreciates the importance of science in their lives and the role of scientific inquiry in
increasing understanding of the world around them.

Working scientifically
SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems

 WS5.2 Students plan first-hand investigations by:

c. identifying in fair tests, variables to be controlled (held constant), measured and
changed
d. describing safety and ethical guidelines to be addressed

 WS5.3Students choose equipment or resources for an investigation by:

a. identifying suitable equipment or resources to perform the task, including safety
equipment and digital technologies

SC4-6WS follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types,

collaboratively and individually

 WS6 Students conduct investigations by:

b. assembling and using appropriate equipment and resources to perform the
investigation, including safety equipment
c. selecting equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task (ACSIS126,
ACSIS141)

SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions

 WS7.1 Students process data and information by:

c. extracting information from diagrams, flowcharts, tables, databases, other texts,
multimedia resources and graphs including histograms and column, sector and line graphs
 WS7.2 Students analyse data and information by:

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d. using scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions based on
students' data or secondary sources (ACSIS130, ACSIS145)
e. proposing inferences based on presented information and observations

SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate
scientific language, text types and representations

 WS9 Students communicate by:

d. constructing and using a range of representations to honestly, clearly and/or succinctly
present data and information including diagrams, keys, models, tables, drawings, images,
flowcharts, spreadsheets and databases

Knowledge and understanding

Knowledge and understanding outcomes can be chosen to coincide with the stimulus material given.
The questions in the practical assessment are examples of what can be asked.

Learning across the curriculum

Cross-curriculum priorities
☐Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
☐Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia
☐Sustainability

General capabilities
☒Critical and creative thinking
☐Ethical understanding
☐Information and communication technology capability
☐Intercultural understanding
☒Literacy
☒Numeracy
☒Personal and social capability

Other areas of learning

☐Civics and citizenship
☐Difference and diversity
☐Work and enterprise

2 Learning and Teaching

Teacher notes
This is an in class skills based task that has an appearance of a practical test, Students work in
various stations to display an understanding of the basic science skills. The task may be appropriate
to assess working scientifically skill in term 1 in year 7. With some classes it may even be appropriate
to retest after teaching has taken place to ensure they can work safely in a lab. It could be linked to
the distribution of science licenses or Bunsen burner licenses.
Teachers will be required to set up stations for students to engage with. A list of equipment and
stimulus material is provided for teachers to include.
The time allowed for the task has been allocated at 60 minutes. Teachers are able to reduce or add
time depending on the skills covered in school and the individual needs of their students.

The practical assessment questions have been linked to working scientifically outcomes. The
information can be amended by teachers to include more questions and to reformat.

Student instructions
1. The following practical assessment task will assess some working scientifically outcomes
2. Your work is set up in 15 stations.
3. You will be allowed 4 minutes at each station.
4. Move from station to station at the bell.
5. You will need to work silently.
6. You will need to have all necessary equipment e.g. ruler, pencil, pen etc. No borrowing is
allowed.

Practical assessment
Use the stimulus provided at each station to answer the questions in the space provided. Show
working and units where appropriate.

Station 1 (1 mark)
Identify the equipment that is best suited to transfer 2mL of water.

Outcomes
SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems
 WS5.3Students choose equipment or resources for an investigation by:
a. identifying suitable equipment or resources to perform the task, including safety
equipment and digital technologies

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Station 2 (2 marks)
Use the given equipment to find the volume of the given object.

Outcomes
SC4-6WS follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types,
collaboratively and individually
 WS6 Students conduct investigations by:
c. selecting equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task (ACSIS126,
ACSIS141)

Station 3 (2 marks)
Draw a scientific diagram of the equipment set up on the table.

Outcomes
SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate
scientific language, text types and representations.
 WS9 Students communicate by:
d. constructing and using a range of representations to honestly, clearly and/or succinctly
present data and information including diagrams, keys, models, tables, drawings, images,
flowcharts, spreadsheets and databases

Station 4 (1 mark)
Student M carries this equipment to their bench. How should they safely carry it across?

Outcomes
SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems
 WS5.2 Students plan first-hand investigations by:
d. describing safety and ethical guidelines to be addressed

Station 5 (1 mark)
Read the information provided and then answer the question below.

What can you conclude from the results?

Outcomes
SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
 WS7.2 Students analyse data and information by:
e. proposing inferences based on presented information and observations

4 Learning and Teaching

Station 6 (2 marks)
Use the equipment provided to find the temperature of the object.

Outcomes
SC4-6WS follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types,
collaboratively and individually
 WS6 Students conduct investigations by:
b. assembling and using appropriate equipment and resources to perform the
investigation, including safety equipment
c. selecting equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task (ACSIS126,
ACSIS141)

Station 7 (2 marks)
Record the information provided in a graph or diagram.

Outcomes
SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate
scientific language, text types and representations
 WS9 Students communicate by:
d. constructing and using a range of representations to honestly, clearly and/or succinctly
present data and information including diagrams, keys, models, tables, drawings, images,
flowcharts, spreadsheets and databases

Station 8 (2 marks)
Use the triple beam balance to measure the mass of the flask and the mass of water.

Outcomes
SC4-6WS follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types,
collaboratively and individually
 WS6 Students conduct investigations by:
b. assembling and using appropriate equipment and resources to perform the
investigation, including safety equipment
c. selecting equipment to collect data with accuracy appropriate to the task (ACSIS126,
ACSIS141)

Station 9 (2 marks)
Use the reference sample and write down the two things the scientists observed.

Outcomes

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SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
 WS7.2 Students analyse data and information by:
d. using scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions based on
students' data or secondary sources (ACSIS130, ACSIS145)

Station 10 (2 marks)
Use the ruler to measure the width of material Z. Calculate the actual width of material Z. Show your
working.

Outcomes
SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
 WS7.1 Students process data and information by:
c. extracting information from diagrams, flowcharts, tables, databases, other texts,
multimedia resources and graphs including histograms and column, sector and line graphs

Station 11 (2 marks)
Observe the air hole in the Bunsen burner. Predict and explain the flame type and colour to complete
the following table.

Air hole Flame colour Flame type

                 

                 

Outcomes
SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
 WS7.2 Students analyse data and information by:
d. using scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions based on
students' data or secondary sources (ACSIS130, ACSIS145)

Station 12 (1 mark)
Mr Y fell and hurt his arm. He was rushed to the hospital. The doctor examining Mr Y suspects his
arm is broken. What observation technique would the doctor use to confirm his suspicion?

Outcomes
SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
 WS7.2 Students analyse data and information by:

6 Learning and Teaching

 e. proposing inferences based on presented information and observations

Station 13 (2 marks)
Look around the science laboratory and identify two pieces of equipment that are used to keep you
safe.

Outcomes
SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems
 WS5.2 Students plan first-hand investigations by:
d. describing safety and ethical guidelines to be addressed

Station 14 (2 marks)
Look at the graph and identify the melting and boiling points of substance X.

Outcomes
SC4-7WS processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to
identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
 WS7.1 Students process data and information by:
c. extracting information from diagrams, flowcharts, tables, databases, other texts,
multimedia resources and graphs including histograms and column, sector and line graphs

Station 15 (6 marks)
Identify the following as controlled variable, independent or dependent variables.

Condition Type of variable

Type of seeds      

Amount of water      

Size of beaker      

Size of dish      

Amount of cotton wool      

Height of the seedling      

Outcomes
SC4-5WS collaboratively and individually produces a plan to investigate questions and problems
 WS5.2 Students plan first-hand investigations by:
c. identifying in fair tests, variables to be controlled (held constant), measured and
changed

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8 Learning and Teaching

Stimulus material
Station 1
 Test tube
 Measuring cylinder
 Graduated pipette

Station 2
 Beaker of water (known volume)
 Measuring cylinders (50/100mL)
 Pendulum
 Bob/rubber cork with string attached

Station 3
Filtration setup using the following equipment as a minimum
 Beaker or conical flask for substrate
 Filter funnel
 Filter paper

The setup can either rest the filter funnel on the conical flask or use an O-ring and retort stand.

Station 4
Microscope set up with a paramecium or any suitable specimen.

Station 5
Trading officers were called to a meat factory. They believe that sausages marked as ‘pork sausages’
may contain other type of animal meat. They use electrophoresis (test the DNA of the meat in a lab)
to detect DNA in pork sausages.

Electrophoresis is a technique which separates DNA based on their size. Analysis can be performed
by comparing the similarities of different strips. The results of DNA analysis are shown below.

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DNA in pork sausages DNA in pork DNA in beef DNA in horse meat

Station 6
 Beaker of ice
 Thermometer

Station 7
Stimulus
Nearly the Earth’s entire atmosphere is made up of only five gases: nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour,
argon, and carbon dioxide. Several other compounds also are present. Air is a mixture of various
gases. The main gases present in air are nitrogen (78.1% by volume) and oxygen (20.9% by
volume). These two gases together form 99% of the air. Besides these two, air contains small
amounts of carbon dioxide (0.03 to 0.04%), water vapour (variable), noble gases (0.94%), and dust
particles. The noble gases present in the air are helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon. Since the
percentage of these gases is very small so, they are also called "rare gases".

Equipment
 Compass
 Ruler
 Graph paper

Station 8
 Triple beam balance
 Conical flask with water of known volume

10 Learning and Teaching

Station 9
Stimulus
This is what a scientist saw through a microscope. Use the reference sample and write down the two
things scientists observe.

Station 10
Stimulus

Station 11
 Bunsen burner
 Sign: Do not touch the Bunsen burner

Station 12
 Text

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Station 13
Visible safely equipment in room, can include the following:
 Fire extinguisher
 Safety glasses
 Fire blanket
 Gas switch off
 Electricity switch off
 Lab coats

Station 14

Station 15
 3 beakers with equal amounts of water
 3 petri dishes
o Same amount of cotton wool
o Same number of seeds

12 Learning and Teaching

Marking guideline/rubric
Station No Marking guideline Marks
Station 1 Identifies correct equipment 1

Station 2 Measures the volume of water 2

Calculates the volume of the object with units

Station 3 Drawing in pencil and 2D 2

Uses a ruler and uses the spaces provided appropriately

Station 4 Identifies microscope must be held using the arm and the base 1

Station 5 Processes data to conclude sausage is contaminated with beef 1

Station 6 Measures the temperature of ice with in the range of 0 to 5 degrees 1

Station 7 Students may record information as an appropriate table or graph 2

Correct headings and axis labels

Station 8 Measure mass of water 2

Measure mass of flask

Station 9 Two correct observations 2

Station 10 Uses magnification to calculate the size accurately 2

Station 11 Table correctly filled including open air hole, blue flame and working/heating flame 1

Station 12 Identifies an X-ray as an observation technique 1

Station 13 Identifies two pieces of safety equipment 1

Station 14 Identifies melting and boiling point 2

Station 15 One mark per correct variable identified 6

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