The Reactivity Series
Your child can explain why people used gold and copper before iron. Some metals are more reactive and harder to pull from rock. A more reactive metal can push out a weaker one.
In curriculum terms
Order common metals in the reactivity series and explain how a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one; describe how carbon is used to extract metals from their oxides in industry
Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →
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 was asked why humans used gold and copper before iron and aluminium, could they explain how a metal's reactivity determines how easy it is to extract — and why carbon can extract some metals but not others?
Where this sits on the map
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solid = must come firstdashed = helps
Curriculum alignment
Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.
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.