Years 9 and 10

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.