Learning Map
ScienceMatter & Materialsusually ages 12–13

Reactions That Release or Absorb Heat

Distinguish between exothermic reactions (release energy, temperature rises) and endothermic reactions (absorb energy, temperature falls), with everyday and industrial examples

How to tell they’ve got it

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

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Try this together

If your child shook a sports cold pack to activate it and it got cold, or lit a match and it got hot, could they explain what type of reaction is happening in each case and why one gets hot while the other gets cold?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on
Energy can't be created or destroyedages 11–12Conservation of energy in physical systems connects to exothermic/endothermic reactions — energy is conserved in chemical systems too
How Materials Change Stateages 11–12Energy changes during changes of state (endothermic melting, exothermic freezing) extend the changes-of-state model
Types of Chemical Reactionages 12–13Energy changes are a property of chemical reactions — understanding reaction types gives context
Reactions That Release or Absorb Heatthis skill · ages 12–13
Unlocks
Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

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

This skill sits beyond Year 6 in the Australian Curriculum, so no F–6 code is matched. It also sits beyond the NSW K–6 syllabuses. It also sits beyond Level 6 in the Victorian Curriculum.

Nearby on the map

Acid Reactions & Saltsages 12–13 Acids, Alkalis & pHages 12–13 Earth's Atmosphere & CO2ages 12–14 Finite Resources & Recyclingages 12–14

All Matter & Materials skills →