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Water use activity

In this indoor or outdoor activity, students (working in small groups or as a class) listen to a story about how two people use water every day. They add water to two jugs (one for each character) which correspond to an amount read in the story. It is a great way to show how much water is used for everyday activities and ...

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Water communicators

In this activity, students discuss what it would be like to have no water and how they can save water to prevent this happening. They take a tour of the different locations around the school where water is used and take photographs of students demonstrating ways to save water at that location. They use the photographs to ...

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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

Online

Creating an Indigenous plant-use garden: planting

The outcomes of this learning activity are for children to: follow instructions and a planting plan; understand the steps involved in planting out and maintaining a successful Indigenous plant-use garden enjoy being active and productive outdoors and build their social and teamwork skills; physically be involved in the ...

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Billabongs

Understanding life cycles and the seasons allowed Indigenous Australians to survive. In this resource students will learn about life cycles involved with billabong species alongside seasonal calendars to understand the way their natural world works. In this activity students will work in groups to research an organism, ...

Video

Bathymetry of Australia

This video is a flythrough around the coast of Australia shows the major topographic features of the seafloor around the continent. Starting in the south west the viewer can see the continental shelf and slope of the southern coast followed by the seamount chains and the Great Barrier Reef to the east. Continuing around ...

Video

Understanding the National Earthquake Alerts Centre

This video introduces the National Earthquake Alerts Centre. The video explains that earthquakes are detected by a network of seismometers; each station sends seismic information for analysis and checking by seismologists on duty. The video describes the types of wave forms in earthquakes and the sequence of events in ...

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.

Video

Fossil Shell Stories

This video presents examples of shell fossils that help us to understand where oceans were located in Australia millions of years ago. The shells lived in shallow marine environments before they died and became part of the rocks formed from sand and silt at the bottom of the water. Brachiopods from Woolshed Creek in Canberra ...

Video

Why are river pebbles round? Sugar shake: erosion experiment

This short video introduces the concepts of weathering and erosion by investigating why river pebbles are often rounded. Students can undertake an activity which demonstrates the process of erosion using sugar cubes. They are asked to predict what might happen (a hypothesis) and then observe what does happen and relate ...

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Volcanoes : Teacher notes and student activities

This 80 page booklet covers a range of topics concerning volcanoes. It includes information about causes of volcanic eruptions, volcano types, where volcanoes are found and why, Australia's hot spot volcanoes and the hazards and benefits of volcanoes. Activities cover the science of eruptions and their impact on people, ...

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Earthquakes - Teacher Notes and Student Activities

This 85 page booklet explores earthquakes. The booklet includes the causes and types of earthquakes, how earthquakes are recorded, magnitudes of earthquakes and case studies of significant Australian earthquakes. The booklet contains a glossary, links to online resources, activity ideas and experiments for students and ...

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Weathering, erosion, landforms and regolith - Teacher notes and student activities

This 112 page booklet explores the processes of weathering, erosion and deposition. It highlights the different types of weathering, erosion and transport and provides examples of famous landscapes to enhance the understanding of these processes. It includes case studies about the formation of many Australian landforms ...

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Sugar Shake: Erosion experiment

This activity introduces weathering and erosion by investigating why river pebbles are often rounded. The download includes background information for teachers and an activity sheet for students. The activity demonstrates the process of erosion using sugar cubes. Students are asked to predict what might happen (a hypothesis) ...

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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.

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Make your own microbit seismometer instructions and classroom activities

This 12 page guide explains how to set up a micro:bit as a mini seismometer that will detect shaking, and how to collect and display the data. The guide also includes classroom-ready activities on how to introduce and explore vibrations and earthquake monitoring.

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Tectonic Plates Jigsaw Puzzle

This activity invites students to develop their understanding of tectonic plates using a kinaesthetic puzzle. The teacher guide includes the puzzle pieces to print and cut, equipment and instructions, suggestions for student activities and links to further information and videos about tectonic plates.

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See Inside a Seed

This activity invites students to examine the baby plants inside the seeds we eat and explore the various structures that protect and feed a developing plant embryo. 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 ...

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Falling for Gravity

This activity invites students to calculate the acceleration of gravity using simple materials, a cell phone, and a computer to record, watch, and analyze the motion of a dropped object. The activity includes a list of tools and materials required, assembly instructions, what to do and notice, an explanation for the underlying ...

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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. ...