Search results

Downloadable

Where does rain go?

In this activity, students explore what happens to rain falling on different surfaces.

Downloadable

No water today – with a puppet

In this lesson, students consider what would happen if there was no water. They explore how our actions can either waste water or save water.

Downloadable

Dripping tap investigation

In this activity, students measure how much water is wasted from a leaking tap.

Downloadable

How does water change?

In this lesson, students explore the properties of water using their senses. This activity is useful as a quick introduction to the topic

Text

Indigenous Astronomy and the Solar System

In this classroom activity, students will come to understand some of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander names of the planets, their movement across the sky, and the concepts of ecliptic, zodiac, and retrograde motion. They will focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander observations of these things and discuss ...

Text

Thank you rain! Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Thank you rain! The book celebrates the new life and sense of renewal that comes with rain. Themes of weather, the natural environment and gratitude form part of the book. This unit includes practical ideas for using this book in your classroom.

Downloadable

Solar still activity

In this activity students create a solar still and use a predict-observe-explain strategy to investigate how coloured salty water transforms into clear unsalted water. This activity is useful for exploring changes of state (evaporation and condensation) and water cycles.

Downloadable

Water challenges

In this culminating activity, students use their understanding about how people use and manage water to respond to hypothetical scenarios about water shortages. In this activity, students discuss 'what if' scenarios: possible reasons for the shortages, possible consequences and ways to manage the situation.

Downloadable

What can water do?

In this lesson, students participate in four tasks to develop an understanding of the properties of water, specifically how water changes when warmed or cooled.

Text

Balance

This activity invites students to explore the phenomena of balance and investigate the question, 'Can you find at least three different ways of balancing three identical weights on a balance board?' Students work with a simple balance (e.g., a ruler as the balance board, a toilet-paper-tube fulcrum, and coins as weights), ...

Text

Mirror reversal

This activity invites students to explore the directions that mirrors reflect images. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, what to do and notice, an explanation for the underlying science of what students observe and suggestions for further activities.

Text

Melting Ice and Rising Seas

This activity invites students to investigate how melting ice is a factor contributing to sea level rise. They explore whether the location of melting ice on Earth affects the way sea level rise occurs by making a model of seas, ice and continents. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, what to do ...

Text

Flower Dissection

This activity invites students to dissect a flower to explore the form and function of plant reproductive structures. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, what to do and notice, an explanation for the underlying science of what students observe and suggestions for further activities.

Text

Balancing Sculptures

This activity invites students to explore balance and stability by designing and building whimsical kinetic sculptures that tilt, slide, and suspend everyday objects and ordinary materials into surprising arrangements. Students explore stability, centres of gravity, balanced forces and symmetry through this hands-on, tactile ...

Video

Introduction to fossils

This video demonstrates different types of fossils, explains how fossils form and discusses why fossils why fossils are so useful for learning about life on Earth.

Downloadable

Geological Timewalk Booklet

This 58 page booklet explores geological timescales in the context of the Australian continent. Each section discusses a single geological time interval, and outlines the major geological, climatic and biological events which occurred in that interval, including continental drift, the break-up and amalgamation of continental ...

Downloadable

Ice Power

This activity demonstrates how much water expands when frozen. Students quantify water's expansion when it freezes and establish how this can lead to weathering (breakdown) of rocks in areas exposed to frequent freezing and thawing temperatures. It is best to set up the demonstration one day ahead and examine the results ...

Text

Work sample Year 4 Science: Amusement park ride

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Year 4 Science. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation of ...

Downloadable

Sustainable water sources

In this lesson, students research alternative water sources such as desalination, recycled water, stormwater, rainwater and greywater. They use this information to design a water and energy saving solution to a water supply problem.

Downloadable

Are we living sustainably?

This unit of eight lessons poses the question ‘Are we living sustainably?’ Students use prompts to draw on their prior knowledge to explain what they already know about sustainability. They then investigate why water is precious, explore how water is used around their school and at home. Students then research ways that ...