Classroom Resources

Students explore the external features of Australian animals and discover how these features help them survive in their habitats. Through engaging drawing, matching, classification and comprehension activities, learners investigate living things, animal adaptations and scientific observation while addressing key Stage 1 NSW Science and Technology outcomes including:

ST1-SCI-01: Understanding the characteristics of living things.
ST1-PQU-01: Asking questions and investigating cause and effect.
ST1-DAT-01: Collecting and interpreting data to identify patterns.
ST1-4LW-S: Identifying and grouping living things by their external features.

Students explore a variety of Australian habitats and discover how animals depend on their environments for food, shelter and survival. Through matching activities, habitat investigations, classification tasks, mapping exercises and creative challenges, learners examine the relationship between living things and their environments while developing observation and scientific inquiry skills. This resource addresses key Stage 1 NSW Science and Technology outcomes including:

ST1-SCI-01: Understanding the characteristics of living things.
ST1-SCI-02: Exploring how living things depend on each other and their environment to survive.
ST1-PQU-01: Asking questions and investigating cause and effect.
ST1-DAT-01: Collecting and interpreting data to identify patterns.
ST1-4LW-S: Identifying and grouping living things by their external features.
ST1-5LW-T: Understanding how living things depend on different environments to meet their needs

Science & Technology (Stage 2)

• ST2-4LW-S
  Living things depend on each other and their environment (habitat, diet, ecosystems)

• ST2-5LW-T
  Living things have structural and behavioural adaptations (e.g. gliding, nocturnal)

• ST2-1WS-S
  Investigates using information sources (reading and extracting facts)

ST2-4LW-S
→ Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptations of living things

ST2-1WS-S
→ Observes, questions and collects data to investigate scientific ideas

ST2-2DP-T
→ Selects and uses materials, tools and processes to design and produce solutions

ST2-5LW-T (optional – if using habitat/conservation discussions)
→ Describes how living things interact with each other and the environment

Students investigate food chains, food webs and the flow of energy through ecosystems while exploring the relationships between plants, animals and their environments. Through classification activities, predator-prey investigations, habitat studies and food chain challenges, learners develop an understanding of how living things depend on one another for survival and how energy moves through ecosystems. This resource addresses key Stage 2 NSW Science and Technology outcomes including:

• ST2-SCI-01: Investigating how energy affects living systems, including food chains, food webs and habitats.
• ST2-PQU-01: Asking questions and investigating relationships between living things and their environments.
• ST2-DAT-01: Collecting, using and interpreting data to identify patterns and relationships in ecosystems.

Students explore the life cycles of a variety of animals and discover how living things grow, develop and reproduce. Through life cycle sequencing, animal baby identification, growth investigations and species-specific case studies, learners examine the stages of animal development and the adaptations that help young animals survive. This resource addresses key Stage 2 NSW Science and Technology outcomes including:

• ST2-SCI-01: Understanding how living things grow, change and produce offspring.
• ST2-SCI-02: Exploring how living things depend on each other and their environment for survival.
• ST2-PQU-01: Asking questions and using evidence to investigate scientific concepts.
• ST2-DAT-01: Gathering and interpreting data to identify patterns and make predictions.
• ST2-4LW-S: Examining the life cycles of living things, including growth and reproduction.
• ST2-5LW-T: Understanding how structural and behavioural adaptations help living things survive.

Students investigate how animals have adapted to survive in a range of Australian environments. Through case studies, observation activities, scientific questioning and species-focused investigations, learners explore structural and behavioural adaptations, environmental challenges and the relationships between living things and their habitats. This resource addresses key Stage 3 NSW Science and Technology outcomes including:

• ST3-SCI-01: Understanding how structural and behavioural adaptations help living things survive.
• ST3-SCI-02: Exploring how environmental conditions influence the survival of living things.
• ST3-PQU-01: Planning and conducting investigations using scientific evidence.
• ST3-DAT-01: Collecting, organising and interpreting data to identify patterns and relationships.
• ST3-4LW-S: Examining how adaptations support survival in different environments.
• ST3-5LW-T: Understanding the relationship between environmental conditions and survival.

Students investigate how scientists classify living things and explore the structural and behavioural adaptations that help organisms survive in their environments. Through animal observations, dichotomous key activities, classification challenges and species-focused investigations, learners examine biodiversity, compare animal characteristics and develop scientific inquiry skills while applying real-world classification systems. This resource addresses key Stage 4 NSW Science outcomes including:

• SC4-LIV-02: Understanding how structural and behavioural adaptations support survival.
• SC4-LIV-03: Classifying organisms using observable features and scientific classification systems.
• SC4-PQU-01: Using scientific inquiry to ask questions, investigate and evaluate evidence.
• SC4-DAT-01: Collecting, processing and analysing data to identify patterns and relationships.
• SC4-NAT-01: Understanding how scientific knowledge is developed and used to study biodiversity.

Students explore the complex relationships that exist within ecosystems by investigating food chains, food webs and the roles organisms play in maintaining ecological balance. Through classification activities, plant and animal investigations, apex predator case studies and ecosystem impact discussions, learners examine how energy flows through environments and how changes can affect biodiversity and species survival. This resource addresses key Stage 4 NSW Science outcomes including:

• SC4-LIV-01: Understanding the interactions between living things in ecosystems, including food chains and food webs.
• SC4-LIV-02: Examining how structural and behavioural adaptations support survival.
• SC4-NAT-01: Understanding how scientific knowledge is used to predict and respond to ecosystem change.
• SC4-DAT-01: Collecting, processing and analysing data to identify patterns and relationships.
• SC4-PQU-01: Using scientific inquiry to investigate questions and evaluate evidence

Students investigate the diversity of Australian biota through the lens of evolution, adaptation and biodiversity. Through species comparisons, habitat investigations, reproductive strategy analyses and megafauna case studies, learners explore how organisms have adapted to their environments over time and examine the relationships between genetic diversity, biodiversity and species survival. This resource addresses key Year 11 Biology outcomes including:

• BI11-3: Analysing relationships between organisms and their environment using evolution by natural selection.
• BI11-4: Understanding the effects of genetic diversity and biodiversity on the survival of species and ecosystems.
• BI11-5: Examining adaptations and biological processes that increase survival and reproductive success.
• BIO11WS-03: Conducting scientific investigations to collect data and information.
• BIO11WS-04: Processing qualitative and quantitative data from scientific investigations.
• BIO11WS-05: Analysing and evaluating data to identify patterns, trends and relationships.
• BIO11WS-07: Communicating scientific understanding using evidence and scientific terminology.