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Cardboard Automata

This activity invites students to explore simple mechanical elements such as cams, levers, and linkages, while creating a moving sculpture. This activity is simple to start but may become more and more complex as students become familiar with possible motions and imagine ways to artistically decorate their contraption. ...

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Cranky Contraptions

This activity invites students to make Cranky Contraptions, kinetic sculptures that animate a character or scene when a handle is turned. These automata are powered by a simple crank slider mechanism which provides the basic motion. Everyday materials around can be repurposed into these contraptions. The activity includes ...

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Material world – Stage 1

In this lesson sequence, students investigate how properties of materials determine their use. Students identify a range of natural materials used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples for a specific cultural purpose. There is an optional ‘maker hour’ for students to produce, implement, test and evaluate a shelter ...

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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.

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Water is precious

In this activity, students are introduced to the concepts of everyday water use and water conservation. They discover the importance of water through story and discussion.

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Earth and space – ES1

In this lesson sequence, students explore daily changes in the weather. They make observations and predictions about the weather and record their observations in a weather chart. Students identify how the weather affects choices they make in their daily life. The sequence uses a balance of synchronous and asynchronous ...

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Ice Balloons

This activity invites students to experiment with a frozen water balloon and learn about water chemistry, phase changes, and density. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, what to do and notice, an explanation for the underlying science of what students observe and suggestions for further activities.

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Work sample Year 1 Science: Minibeast habitat

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Year 1 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 ...

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Geography: Landscapes and Landforms

Join Shona from Geoscience Australia and explore the formation of Australia's coastal, desert and mountain landforms and landscapes.

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Mapping the ocean floor

This activity builds understanding of sonar technique and applications through processing and plotting data to discover a seafloor feature and by bouncing balls on different surfaces and analysing rebound, relating this to ground hardness then extend understanding to 'backscatter' in bathymetry surveys. It is suitable for ...

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The Geometry and Algebra of Honeycomb - Calculate

This integrated unit of work explores the amazing structures of honeycomb by examining the properties of regular and irregular polygons and polyhedra. Students then move on to solve problems using geometric and algebraic reasoning.

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Living world – Stage 1

In this lesson sequence, students focus on the observable features of living things and their environment. Students follow and represent sequences of steps and decisions (algorithms) to solve problems.

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Work sample Year 7 Science: Water purification

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Year 7 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 ...

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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.

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Living world – ES1

In this lesson sequence, students learn about the characteristics and needs of living things. They recognise that living things have basic needs including air, food and water. Students apply their learning by investigating the growth of a living thing.

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Physical world – design and production investigation

In this investigative task, students explore how rolling objects are affected by changes in forces including stopping, starting, rolling faster and slower and in different directions. They explore the effects of force on objects by designing a marble push course. Using a straw to exhale (push) air, students manoeuvre a ...

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States of matter

In this unit, students develop an understanding of the properties of solids, liquids and gases and how these can be explained by the particle model of matter, motion and energy.

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Earth and space – Stage 1

In this lesson sequence, students are introduced to regular atmospheric and astronomical events and their effect on the Earth. Students observe, record data, question, describe and identify the changes that occur in the sky and on the land. The sequence uses a balance of synchronous and asynchronous learning strategies. ...

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The Sugarbag: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book The Sugarbag. The book explores themes of Aboriginal culture and customs, adventure and the activities of native bees and their ‘sugarbag’ honey. Some Wiradjuri language words are included. This unit includes practical ideas for using this book in your classroom.

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Clean water challenge

In this activity, student groups investigate how to clean a dirty water mixture. The groups compete to see who can design a filter that produces the cleanest water in the shortest time