A Survey: Supporting Physics in Years 7 – 10 Science

A team of researchers: Dr Victoria Millar and Dr Merryn Dawborn-Gundlach (the University of Melbourne), Dr Jared Carpendale (Massey University), Dr John Cripps-Clark (Deakin University) and Dr Bec Cooper (Monash University) are conducting a joint project about the teaching and learning of physics in Years 7-10 in Victoria.
They are inviting teachers to take part in the project.
They are seeking the views of practising science and physics teachers on the teaching of Year 7 – 10 physics topics. Additionally, they are exploring the role that physics teachers have on the design and support of physics-based units in these years.
If you are keen to be involved please complete this survey. This is an important project and Vicphysics encourages physics teachers to participate.

STAVCON Sessions

These files are the worksheets for the two STAVCON sessions run by the Committee. They are pitched at the Years 9 and 10 levels.

Forces and Collisions 196 kB

A workbook of practical activities with a teacher’s guide of equipment needs and suggested answers.

Electric Circuits and Magnets 478 kB

A workbook of practical activities as well as notes on constructing a simple DC motor with a teacher’s guide of equipment needs and suggested answers.

Electronics Workbook 993 kB

Contains activities on electronic components and simple circuits as well as notes on constructing a simple DC motor. A Teacher’s Guide is include in the back with equipment notes and suggested answers.

Physics Teachers’ Conference material

Several workshops over the years have focused on Years 7 – 10. These are the resources from those workshops.

Using Robotics and Space Science to Engage Students in STEM 7.79 MB

A pdf file by Milorad Cerovac from The King David School.

Useful Physics Demonstrations for Years 7 to 10 6.13 MB

Notes by Paul Fielding of Billanook College and Paul Fitz-Gerald of Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School.

A13: Model Solar cars 78.8 kB

Material from the presentation by Paul Wellington, Monash University.

The Smarties model for electric circuits 72.7 kB

10 page article on ‘Some models for developing beginning students’ understanding of Electric Circuits’. Presented by Dr Christina Hart at the 2007 and 2008 Physics Teachers Conferences.

Physics Teachers’ Conference addresses

At the 2009 Conference Dr David McKinnon gave the Physics Oration “Students’ Alternative Conceptions in Astronomy” which included several very large files: a 50MB Powerpoint Presentation, an 84MB Word document on Lunar phases model and a 12MB avi file as well as 11 video files that range in size from 1MB to 22 MB. All these were available on the CDROM sent to participants by STAV. The smaller files that he supplied are:

Astronomy Diagnostic Test: Manual 1.35 MB

Manual for scoring responses to the ‘Alternative Conceptions in Astronomy’ Test. 32 pages.

Astronomy Diagnostic Test: List 81.9 kB

A ranked and scored list of ‘Alternative Conceptions in Astronomy’. 2 pages.

Astronomy Diagnostic Test 197 kB

The actual test on ‘Alternative Conceptions in Astronomy’. Southern hemisphere version 1.01. 11 pages.

Astronomy Diagnostic Test: Overall Report 980 kB

Report of the Eye Observatory Remote Telescope Project: Practical Astronomy for Years 7, 8 and 9.A Research and Development Reportprepared for the Department of Education, Science and Training byDavid H. McKinnon, Charles Sturt University 206 page pdf file.

Russell Downie’s Files

At the 2014 Physics Teachers’ Conference Russell presented a session on teaching the Astronomy to Year 10 with lab based practical work. These are the documents that he supplied to the Conference Proceedings. Russell used to teach at PLC.

Cosmo: Start here 104 kB

An introduction to a Year 10 Unit on Astronomy by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Student’s Workbook 1.07 MB

The student’s workbook for a Year 10 Unit on Astronomy by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Goals and outcomes 64 kB

A statement of the goals of the Year 10 Astronomy unit under each of the three strands as well as achievement standards. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 1: What’s out there? Lesson plan 79.8 kB

One page lesson plan for ‘What’s out there?’ .Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 1: What’s out there? Worksheet 16.4 MB

One page worksheet with 6 full colour images for ‘What’s out there?’ .Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 1: What’s out there? Powerpoint 2.7 MB

Powerpoint for ‘What’s out there?’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 2: Similar Triangles. Lesson Plan 63.8 kB

One page lesson plan for ‘Similar Triangles’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 2: Similar Triangles. Worksheet 178 kB

Worksheet for ‘Similar Triangles’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lessons 3 & 4: Parallax. Worksheet 33.8 kB

Worksheet for ‘Parallax’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lessons 3 & 4: Parallax. Lesson Plan 369 kB

One page lesson plan for ‘Parallax’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lessons 3 & 4: Parallax. Powerpoint 1.01 MB

Powerpoint on Mt Stromlo for ‘Parallax’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 5: Colour, Temp, Content and Speed. Worksheet 968 kB

Worksheet on colour, etc. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 6: Inverse Square Law. Lesson Plan 38.4 kB

One page lesson plan on Inverse Square Law. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 6: Inverse Square Law. Worksheet 69.1 kB

Worksheet on Inverse Square Law. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 6: Inverse Square Law. Problems 91.7 kB

Problems on Inverse Square Law. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 7: H – R Diagram Worksheet 113 kB

Worksheet on H – R Diagram. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 7: H – R Diagram Questions 65.6 kB

Questions on H – R Diagram. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Lesson Plan 234 kB

One page lesson plan on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Worksheet 157 kB

Worksheet on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

HR Diagram Powerpoint 6.32 MB

Prepared by David Cotton

Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Questions 1.12 MB

Questions on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Powerpoint 851 kB

Powerpoint on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Video 13.4 MB

Video on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 9: Expanding Universe. Worksheet 326 kB

Worksheet on Expanding Universe. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Cosmo: Lesson 9: Expanding Universe. Activity 244 kB

Practical Activity with elastic on Expanding Universe. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.

Useful Demonstrations for Units 1 to 4 5.53 MB

Notes by Paul Fielding of Billanook College and Paul Fitz-Gerald of Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School.

Useful Physics Demonstrations for Years 7 to 10 6.13 MB

Notes by Paul Fielding of Billanook College and Paul Fitz-Gerald of Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School.