Teacher support materials

The resources below are designed to assist in the teaching of biological sciences, physical sciences and earth and space sciences from Foundation to Year 2.

Using these early years science learning resources, teachers are encouraged to develop inquiry-based learning activities which investigate questions such as:

  • How do insects live?
  • How do objects move?
  • What changes can we see in the sky?

Biological sciences

The biological sciences resources include an insect picture book, digital images and insect videos illustrating that living things have basic needs. Colourful scientific digital images are accompanied by a suggested teaching and learning approach.

Orange seastar on a rock

Am I living?

Concepts such as living, non-living and once-living are explored through images and related activities.

The adult butterfly is hanging from its chrysalis, and its wings are fully inflated

Life cycles

How insects grow and change is investigated through an example of the Wanderer Butterfly life cycle.

  

Physical sciences

The physical sciences digital images in the teacher support materials focus on how objects move. Images of the objects in the physical sciences interactive on movement can be used to discuss how size and shape impact on the object’s movement.

A child using a wrench

Push and pull

The nature of forces and motion is investigated by focusing on toys and children involved in play.

Red and white fabric jacks

Moving toys

Forces which are needed to move toys are discussed and students make comparisons between their own toys and those from different cultures.

Marionette depicting a girl dressed in a blue and white plaid blouse, pink skirt, white apron and a peasant hat.

Marionettes

The activities in this resource require students to make observations, predictions and use the words 'push' and 'pull' to describe how marionettes move.

  

Earth and space sciences

To begin learning about earth and space sciences and their place in the cosmos, students can view videos of a museum astronomer describing observable changes in the sky, including animations rich in scientifically correct imagery. A series of image galleries has been designed to nurture student curiosity about changes on earth, such as day and night.

Space view of Earth

Changes in the sky

Changes in the sky are explored by looking at the relationship between the Sun and the Earth.

An illustration from Story in the Stars of an emu, crow and turtle

Stories in the stars

Through careful observations, students identify patterns and discover meanings of the stars.

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