Sometimes understanding the task words / HSC key terms in questions and knowing exactly what is required to answer the question can be a tricky thing for students to grasp. This task uses confectionery, chocolate and/or lollies (images or actual products) to demonstrate this. There are two components - an individual/pair task and a class task. You have the choice to use one or both tasks to develop their understanding of the terms. For the individual/pair task, provide students with a small chocolate bar each and use it to answer each of the questions, such as DESCRIBE the taste of the chocolate bar. Stimulus material incorporating the definitions of each task word, example ingredient lists, the process of making chocolate, descriptive sensory words and an article on the health implications of chocolate are provided to assist students with the more in depth questions that require additional research/knowledge. For the class task, use and display the images on each slide of the PowerPoint presentation to complete the tasks, such as IDENTIFY this item and PROPOSE the introduction of this confectionery at the school canteen. There is a confectionery list and an estimated price list if you would prefer to use the actual products for this component. Task Words/HSC Key Terms include: identify define describe explain discuss propose justify outline compare evaluate account recommend analyse

Sometimes understanding the task words / HSC key terms in questions and knowing exactly what is required to answer the question can be a tricky thing for students to grasp. This task uses images of different sports to demonstrate to students the differences in the task words. Each slide of the PowerPoint has a different sport image and different task word for students to write an answer to. For example ‘OUTLINE the fitness requirements to compete in this sport at Olympic level’ accompanied with the image of a swimmer. Task words increase in difficulty with the level of information required throughout the PPT. Display the presentation to class and work through it as a class, or print and provide as a handout to each student. This can be a great task to introduce task words to students or as a revision activity to ensure students are grasping the concepts. Task Words/HSC Key Terms include: identify define describe explain discuss propose justify outline compare evaluate account recommend analyse

Have you seen an uptake of students consuming energy drinks as their main form of everyday beverage? The energy drink market has seen unprecedented growth over the last 10 years and their popularity is continuing to grow, especially in our youth and adolescents. While there may be some positives to consuming the occasional energy drink, there are many short and long term health effects including addiction, anxiety, dehydration, fertility and heart issues. This poster provides an easy to read outline of some of the most major impacts energy drinks have on the human body. It includes the definition of an energy drink (in case your students like to argue why their energy drink isn’t an energy drink or isn’t bad for them!) as well as a QR code students can scan to view a cool, short, free YouTube video on ‘What if you only drank energy drinks?’ by the team from AsapScience whose aim is to make science make sense. The inspiration behind the creation of this poster came when one of my 15 year old students had a full-on meltdown and screamed it was the only thing she has to drink today and I was stopping her from hydrating (conveniently forgetting the cool filtered bubblers outside and the fact she’d just come in from break) because I asked her to tip her (just opened) large can of V down the sink because energy drinks are banned at our school (which she already knew!). For our students to live long and happy lives, we need to help them understand the importance of looking after their bodies (including what they put into it), and minimising their intake of energy drinks is one aspect we can help educate them on.