Plasticine Investigators – Year 1 CLE

Publication Date: July, 2016

Type of Resource: Practical activity/investigation

This online resource introduces students to the concepts of physical change.

The resource is an ASSIST Connected Learning Experience (CLE) to help teach Year 1 students about the concepts of physical change.

Description: In these investigations the physical changes made to plasticine when it is manipulated in different ways including the softening of the material by warming are investigated.

Learning intentions

Students will be able to:

- understand how materials can be changed by interacting physically with the material (plasticine) [including temperature change];
- understand and use appropriate scientific vocabulary to describe and compare properties of materials;
- measure by comparing objects or by using informal units;
- identify and explore information and ideas;
- respond to questions make predictions and participate in guided investigations;
- follow instructions to record (including the option of using digital technologies) and to sort their observations and share them with others

New Australian Curriculum Codes: AC9SFU03 (Foundation) AC9S2U03 (Year 2)

External Link:

Plasticine investigators CLE – Year 1

Additional Information

The Connected Learning Experience Resource

A Connected Learning Experience (CLE) is a resource package designed to support the use of inquiry investigations in the classroom.

Each CLE may not encompass all the concepts and skills addressed in the specific content descriptions outlined by the Australian Curriculum: Science for that Year level. The Learning Intentions clearly define the aims and objectives of the CLE.

Year 1 Achievement Standard

By the end of Year 1, students describe objects and events that they encounter in their everyday lives, and the effects of interacting with materials and objects. They describe changes in their local environment and how different places meet the needs of living things.

Australian Curriculum:

Year 1 > Science Inquiry Skills > Questioning and Predicting > Pose and respond to questions, and make predictions about familiar objects and events >
ACSIS024
Year 1 > Science Inquiry Skills > Planning and conducting > Participate in guided investigations to explore and answer questions >
ACSIS025
Year 1 > Science Inquiry Skills > Processing and analysing data and information > Use a range of methods to sort information, including drawings and provided tables and through discussion, compare observations with predictions >
ACSIS027
Year 1 > Science Inquiry Skills > Communicating > Represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways >
ACSIS029
Year 1 > Science Understanding > Chemical Sciences > Everyday materials can be physically changed in a variety of ways >
ACSSU018
Year 1 > Science as a Human Endeavour > Nature and development of science > Science involves observing, asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events >
ACSHE021

Plasticine Investigators – Year 1 CLE

Alternatives for Dissections

Maintaining Mass

Carbon Cycle Role-Play