Teaching Primary Connections
Are the new V9-aligned sequences available as physical books?
Primary Connections’ new sequences, aligned to the Australian Curriculum V9, are only available digitally. This ensures that all of our resources remain freely accessible to all teachers, and are living documents that can be updated and refined as required.
We know many teachers prefer physical copies, and/or need to create document versions for their programs and record keeping. We are currently working on making each sequence available as a downloadable editable document. These will be available in the "Downloads” tab attached to each sequence.
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Can I still access the old units aligned to the Australian Curriculum V8.4?
Our AC V8.4 aligned sequences will remain available to download from this site until at least 2026.
You will find zip packages, which include the curriculum unit, e-Resource sheets, assessment rubrics and work samples, available to download from the Classic sequences for AC V8.4 page.
Are there assessment rubrics for the new sequences aligned to the Australian Curriculum V9?
Each lesson in the new sequences contains assessment advice, alongside the key learning goals for the lesson. This advice is centred around what teachers might be looking for during the lesson, to support them to make decisions about how they might respond to student learning.
At this stage we don’t have summative assessment rubrics or work samples available. We hope that, as more and more teachers use our resources, we might be able to build up a bank of work samples we can use and share as part of our resources. If you or your colleagues would like to be involved, we’d love for you to get in touch with us.
Many of our new sequences have some similarities with our classic AC V8.4 aligned sequences. For example, if you’re currently teaching, or looking to teach, our new Year 1 sequence Any day outdoors, you might find the existing rubrics and work samples for our AC V8.4 aligned unit Weather in my world helpful. It’s important to note however that these rubrics and work samples align to AC V8.4 expectations for Foundation students. It might be a useful starting point to create a new rubric, with refence to the new Year 1 Achievement standards for the AC V9, taking into account any adjustments required by different science content and literacy and numeracy expectations.
Can I purchase kits with the equipment needed for a unit or sequence?
In the past Primary Connections had a licensing agreement with Abacus Education suppliers that included permission for the sale of equipment kits related to our AC V8.4 aligned curriculum units and branded as Primary Connections.
However, as part of a digital transformation that began in 2019, Primary Connections no longer endorses the sale of our resources, or allow any third-party permission to brand other products, including resource kits, as being associated with or endorsed by us.
In making this decision we hoped to ensure that our resources remain freely accessible and within the means of all Australian schools and teachers.
Feedback we have received from teachers is that, by using our collated resource lists, they are able to build kits of their own for a reasonable price by utilising supermarkets, discount variety stores and online market places.
In the coming weeks collated resource lists will become available for all of our currently available teaching sequences aligned with the Australian Curriculum V9. If you’d like to keep up-to-date with when these become available you might subscribe to our newsletter.
Can I use Primary Connections resources if I teach a multi-age class?
Yes. Find out how Primary Connections supports teachers to differentiate, moderate, and provide feedback to students in our Pedagogical toolbox.
Also refer to ACARA’s guidance regarding catering for student diversity, and providing students with opportunities to work with learning area content in more depth or breadth; encompassing specific aspects of the general capabilities learning continuum.
Do I have to teach Primary Connections teaching sequences exactly as written?
We support teachers to modify Primary Connections teaching sequences in order to meet student interests, increase relevance to local and school contexts, and to meet state-based syllabus or curriculum. Our teaching and learning approach is grounded in the Australian Academy of Science LIA Framework. The LIA Framework is a constructivist, guided-inquiry approach where students are supported to make conceptual change by gathering and analysing their own evidence. Primary Connections teaching sequences are examples of how to implement the LIA Framework in primary science. When modifying lessons, ensure that you retain the purpose of each phase of the LIA Framework.
Primary Connections professional learning opportunities
Do you offer professional learning?
Primary Connections offers a variety of professional learning opportunities, from just-in-time advice embedded as part of each teaching sequence to the Pedagogical toolbox where you’ll find a collection of curated tools written by education experts that can be used by educators at all career stages. The toolbox also offers school science leaders ideas for sharing the latest in learning design and teaching strategies with their colleagues.
The Primary Connections team also offer online courses and webinars to meet the needs of Australian teachers. Make sure you are signed up to our mailing list to hear about these opportunities.
I would like to learn more about the LIA framework. Can I organise a training session for me and my colleagues?
Primary Connections is always looking for opportunities to work with teachers to develop understandings of the new LIA framework. Contact us to discuss your needs further.
About Primary Connections
What is Primary Connections all about?
We’ve been around for more than 15 years, working with and for teachers to bring innovative and contemporary resources and professional learning that enrich primary science education in Australia. We’re more than a set of teaching sequences; we offer a unique approach to professional learning and teaching guided-inquiry science, which results in a proven increase in student learning outcomes.
Does Primary Connections address my state’s syllabus/curriculum?
As a federally funded program, our teaching sequences align to the Australian Curriculum: Science. All state-based curricula must adhere to the Australian Curriculum, therefore the majority of our sequences cover your state-based syllabus/curriculum.
How do I find specific content about science concepts for my reference using Primary Connections?
Explore our Science content resources, designed just for teachers, written by our scientists.
How do I stay updated about Primary Connections’ new resources and professional learning?
Stay updated by subscribing to our mailing list.