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Year 3 Science (Chemical and Physical Sciences): Learning Outcomes

Year 3 Chemical Sciences

Investigate the observable properties of solids and liquids and how adding or removing heat energy leads to a change of state.

  • observing the properties of substances and classifying them as solids (that hold their shape) or liquids (that fill the bottom of containers)

  • investigating ice melting or water freezing in a sealed bag and explaining their observations

  • using ice cubes, butter or chocolate to explore how changes of state involve the removal of heat or the addition of heat

  • investigating how changes of state in materials used by First Nations Australians such as beeswax or resins are important for their use

  • exploring how changes from solid to liquid and liquid to solid can help us recycle materials such as glass or plastics

Year 3 Physical Sciences

Identify sources of heat energy and examine how temperature changes when heat energy is transferred from one object to another.

  • exploring how we sense heat and identifying sources of heat such as the sun, fire, electrical devices and geothermal springs

  • recognising that changes in heat energy can be measured using a thermometer

  • observing and, with assistance, measuring, what happens when a cold object is placed in direct contact with a warm object and proposing explanations

  • modelling the movement of heat from one object to another using drawing or role-play

  • investigating how well heat is transferred by different types of materials such as metals, plastics and ceramics and identifying how materials are used to keep things hot and cold

  • exploring how First Nations Australians developed clothing from animal skins such as possum furs and kangaroo skin cloaks that trap heat close to the body to stay warm