Earth & Space Science (NSW) - Australian Earth Science Education
 

Earth & Space Science (NSW)

Earth and Space Science

This page features local resources and links to relevant resources across our many programs, including WASP and PALMS.

Foundation

Explore a wide range of topics including; rocks, fossils & minerals, soil, water, natural processes and space with our youngest learners. Enthuse and excite students, sparking their curiosity for this important topic in this suite of PALMS activities.

Find out more about the rocks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with these fun activities. Click here for the student worksheet. Or watch this video.

Explore change, movement, day and night, seasons and other aspects of the world around us. Students are encouraged to use their five senses to discover how changes in the weather and seasons affect their personal and social lives. Emphasis is placed on observation and testing for this group of students heading towards Year 1 in this suite of PALMS activities.

Find out more about the rocks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with these fun activities. Click here for the student worksheet. Or watch this video.

Year 1

Students explore the use of senses in science, make their own weather recording equipment measuring changes in rain, wind and temperature so they can produce their own weather reports, and finally, they will describe the difference between natural, managed and constructed features in the landscape in this suite of PALMS activities.

Find out more about the rocks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with these fun activities. Click here for the student worksheet. Or watch this video.

The Newcastle Coastal Geotrail provides a great experience with lots of links to the curriculum – find out more here – Newcastle Geotrail Activities – Teacher Information

Year 2

Introduce students to the resources that are used by themselves and in schools. Water, soil, air and mineral resources are examined and the concept of sustainability introduced. Students will audit both the school’s use of resources and their own in this suite of PALMS activities.

Find out more about the rocks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with these fun activities. Click here for the student worksheet. Or watch this video.

The Newcastle Coastal Geotrail provides a great experience with lots of links to the curriculum – find out more here – Newcastle Geotrail Activities – Teacher Information

Year 3

Use scientific testing and accurate measurements to explain how Earth’s rotation and the Sun’s light causes day, night and shadows. Construct simple equipment to measure time in years, months, days and minutes. Create models to display the relative sizes and movement of the Sun, Earth and Moon in this suite of PALMS activities.

Find out more about the rocks of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with these fun activities. Click here for the student worksheet. Or watch this video.

The Newcastle Coastal Geotrail provides a great experience with lots of links to the curriculum – find out more here – Newcastle Geotrail Activities – Teacher Information

Year 4

Investigate how the surface of the Earth changes as a result of natural processes and of human activity. Fossils and rocks are used to demonstrate changes over geological time whilst weathering and erosion activities model relatively short-term changes. Students are asked to audit the more recent positive and negative results of humans and weather on landscapes in Australia and overseas. Soils are produced by weathering and are an essential resource. Students investigate the chemical and physical characteristics of soils and find how these can affect usage.  The use of fair testing and correct terminology is encouraged in this suite of PALMS activities.

For Year 4 students WASP offers:

Year 5

Consider scientific and other explanations for the construction of the Solar System. The Sun, planets and smaller bodies are researched and mathematically modelled with consideration to accuracy of scale. The factors controlling planetary position, size, composition and orbits are tested. The position of the Sun as the primary source of almost all energy on Earth is researched. Students are encouraged to recognise how scientific explanations change over time as new technologies are discovered and new thinking occurs in this suite of PALMS activities.

Tackle a class STEM project to consider how dust impacts us both on Earth and in Space in this offering from PALMS.

For Year 5 students WASP offers:

Year 6

Consider changes to the surface of our planet, and beyond. Through a series of activities students consider the forces that shape our planet and the impact they have on humans and the environment. Students also start considering higher level scientific processes and terminology in this suite of PALMS activities.

Tackle a class STEM project to design an international space farm in this offering from PALMS.

For Year 6 students WASP offers:

Year 7

For Year 7 students WASP offers:

Other resources

Year 8

For Year 8 students WASP offers:

More resources

 

AusEarthEd activities also cover:

Year 9

For Year 9 students WASP offers:

The Newcastle Coastal Geotrail provides a great experience with lots of links to the curriculum – find out more here – Newcastle Geotrail Activities – Teacher Information

Elements of a High-Tech Society – Student Worksheet

Elements of a High-Tech Society – Teacher Notes

 

AusEarthEd activities also cover:

Year 10

For Year 10 students WASP offers:

The Newcastle Coastal Geotrail provides a great experience with lots of links to the curriculum – find out more here – Newcastle Geotrail Activities – Teacher Information

Elements of a High-Tech Society – Student Worksheet

Elements of a High-Tech Society – Teacher Notes