Science Role Play

Reception and Year 1

Explore, measure, sort and classify as you try different tools and clothing.

60 minutes
up to 30 students
This program has been especially designed for Reception (Foundation year) and Year 1 students, with lots of opportunity for active engagement. The session starts with an introduction to science and how we find out what's happening in the world around us. Students will role play being different scientists (Entomologist:insect scientist; Geologist:rock scientist) and try 4 activities including measuring, mixing and sorting.

Room Requirements

Set up time: 20 minutes. Pack up time: 30 minutes.
A regular classroom, with tables in 4 groups/workstations, and chairs packed away. Students will move in groups to each table to complete 4 activities. One activity involves water so a wet area is preferrable, or your presenter can bring a tarp or groundsheet on the day. Access to water is essential (we will bring buckets).

Australian Curriculum links

Reception / Foundation Year

Science Understanding

Chemical sciences: objects are made of materials that have observable properties. Sorting and grouping materials on the basis of observable properties such as colour, texture and flexibility. Investigating different forms of clothing used for different activities.

Science as a Human Endeavour

Nature and development of science: Science involves exploring and observing the world using the senses (hearing, smell, touch, seeing, but we don't eat science experiments). Recognising that observation is an important part of exploring and investigating the things and places around us. Sharing observations with others and communicating experiences. Exploring and observing using hearing, smell, touch, seeing and taste.

Science Inquiry Skills

Questioning and predicting: Respond to questions about familiar objects and events.

Planning and conducting: Explore and make observations by using the senses.

Communicating: Share observations and ideas. Working in groups to describe what students have done and what they found out. Communicating ideas through role play and drawing.

Year 1

Science Understanding

Chemical sciences: Everyday materials can be physically changed in a variety of ways. Predicting and comparing how the shapes of objects made from different materials can be physically changed through actions such as bending, stretching and twisting. Exploring how materials such as water, chocolate or playdough change when warmed or cooled.

Physical sciences: Light and sound are produced by a range of sources and can be sensed. Recognising senses are used to learn about the the world around us: our eyes to detect light, our ears to detect sound, and touch to feel vibrations. Exploring different ways to produce sound using familiar objects and actions such as striking, blowing, scraping and shaking.

Science as a Human Endeavour

Nature and development of science: Science involves asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events.

Use and influence of science: People use science in their daily lives. Considering how science is used in activities such as cooking, building, medicine. Exploring how musical instruments can be used to produce different sounds.

Science Inquiry Skills

Questioning and predicting: Respond to and pose questions, and make predictions about familiar objects and events. Using the senses to explore the local environment to pose interesting questions, make inferences and predictions. Thinking about "What will happen if...?" type questions about everyday objects and events.

Planning and conducting: Participate in different types of guided investigations to explore and answer questions, such as manipulating materials, testing ideas, and accessing information sources. Manipulating objects and materials and making observations of the results. Sorting objects and events based on easily observable characteristics. Use informal measurements in the collection and recording of observations. Using units that are familiar to students from home and school, such as cups and hand spans.

Processing and analysing data and information: Use a range of methods to sort information, including drawings and provided tables. Using matching activities, including identifying similar things, odd-one-out and opposites. Through discussion, compare observations with predictions. Comparing and discussing, with guidance, whether observations were expected.

Evaluating: Compare observations with those of others. Discussing observations with other students to see similarities and differences in results.

Communicating: Represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways such as oral and written language, drawing and role play. Discussing with others what was discovered from an investigation. Presenting ideas to other students, both one-to-one and in small groups.