Learning Map
ScienceScientific Inquiryusually ages 7–9

Could there be another explanation?

For any result, ask: is there another explanation? — the first explanation that fits isn't always the right one, and good scientists actively look for alternatives

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

When your child comes up with an explanation for something they observed, do they try to think of at least one other possible explanation before deciding they've found the answer?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Changing Your Mind with Evidenceages 6–8Actively seeking alternative explanations requires first having the habit of not defending your original interpretation against the evidence
Understanding Whyages 8–9Asking 'is there another explanation?' is the scientific form of the universal elaborative-interrogation habit
Could there be another explanation?this skill · ages 7–9
Unlocks
Correlation vs Causationages 8–10Recognising that correlation is not causation requires the habit of generating alternative explanations — the correlation/causation distinction is a specific case of asking 'is there another explanation?'
Using evidence to answer questionsages 7–9Identifying similarities and differences in evidence opens up space for alternative explanations — patterns that differ from expectations prompt the habit of seeking alternatives
Science Can Be Revisedages 9–11Provisionality of scientific knowledge is grounded in the habit of always seeking alternative explanations — science revises because scientists keep asking 'is there another way to explain this?'

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9S5I05low confidenceYear 5 · Science inquiry

compare methods and findings with those of others, recognise possible sources of error, pose questions for further investigation and select evidence to draw reasoned conclusions

AC9S4H02low confidenceYear 4 · Science as a human endeavour

consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem

AC9S3H02low confidenceYear 3 · Science as a human endeavour

consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Classifying living thingsages 7–9 Drawing conclusions from evidenceages 7–9 Fair testingages 7–9 Measuring accuratelyages 7–9

All Scientific Inquiry skills →