Science / Foundation / Science Understanding / Biological sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

Living things have basic needs, including food and water (ACSSU002)

Elaborations
  • identifying the needs of humans such as warmth, food and water, using students’ own experiences
  • recognising the needs of living things in a range of situations such as pets at home, plants in the garden or plants and animals in bushland
  • comparing the needs of plants and animals
ScOT terms

Nutrition,  Sunlight,  Plant nutrition,  Sheltering behaviour,  Water

Video

For the Juniors: Where does honey come from?

Discover where honey comes from. Learn how and why honey is made and how we get different types of honey. See what daily life is like in a bee colony.

Video

For the Juniors: Growing apples

Do you like eating apples? This clip shows where apples are grown. Learn how the apple farmer (orchardist) looks after the apple trees so they can grow lots of healthy fruit.

Video

For the Juniors: Using and storing water on a farm

Can you imagine a farm with no water? What might happen to the animals and crops? This clip explains how important a water supply is for farmers. You will see some ways that farmers store water, which is especially important when there is limited or no rain.

Video

Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a koala

Join Don Spencer as he talks about one of Australia's most popular animals. Observe koalas as they walk, climb and jump to find food in the bush. Discover why koalas rarely drink.

Interactive

Chicken farming in the living world: Stage 1

Chickens are fascinating animals and provide students with an interesting subject matter to discuss the many aspects of our living world. This interactive course for students explores the question 'How do humans use plants and animals?' and comprises a series of modules and supporting videos. Students will plan, design ...

Interactive

Environmental and Zoo Education Centres – primary school resources

A collection of digital resources for primary school teachers and students to support teaching and learning from home, with a particular focus on geography, science and history. The resources were developed by Department of Education teachers from 25 Environmental and Zoo Education Centres in NSW and include Google Sites, ...

Online

A year on a farm

This resource is a 50 page pdf integrated inquiry unit, for junior primary students, exploring farm life and farm produce. It uses the five stage inquiry model to sequence activities on the importance of measuring time in farm production. Topics explored are: how do farmers grow animals and crops?; how are these processed ...

Online

Farm Diaries

This resource is a 48 page pdf integrated inquiry unit, for junior primary students, exploring farm life and farm produce. Activities are sequenced using the five inquiry model. Topics examined include: how do farm families care for the animals and crops they farm?; how are these animals and crops processed for food or ...

Downloadable

Unit for Reception to Year 2 Butterflies: Engaging with nature

This unit of work engages students in preparing butterfly gardens in their schoolgrounds. It explores the characteristics of living and non-living things, features of caterpillars and butterflies, the lifecycle of butterflies, survival requirements, and the characteristics of butterfly gardens. The unit includes worksheets, ...

Online

Planting fruit and vegetables

In this sequence of lessons students grow a plant from seed, capturing each step and decision as an algorithmic process and recording data for future learning.

Online

What’s happening in the habitat?

We’re going to identify animals in their habitats by exploring either your backyard, schoolyard, a local park or some other natural place. Investigate your surroundings to see which animals are sharing the local habitat with you. Use the field guide to help you identify animals in your community.

Online

Propagating from fruit and vegetable scraps

We’re going to use fruit and vegetable scraps to propagate or grow new plants! Investigating plant growth engages young learners in a hands-on science project and helps illustrate plant features and life-cycles. Your plants can even be planted into the garden to produce a future crop. OUTCOMES for this learning activity ...

Online

Sow a seed, grow a feed

Engage young learners’ senses as they grow food from a seed. They can learn about caring for a living thing, experience the joy of watching something grow and harvesting healthy edible food. The activity provides opportunities for development of science, sustainability and maths concepts. OUTCOMES of this learning activity ...

Text

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.

Video

For the Juniors: Where Does Bread Come From?

Do you know where your bread comes from? Discover how many other foods can be made from wheat flour. This clip tells the story of wheat from the farm to the factory. See how the big machines in a flour mill make flour from grains of wheat.

Video

Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a cockatoo

Meet Charlie, a pet cockatoo. Watch other cockatoos in the wild as they climb, fly and walk around. Discover the reason for the name of the sulphur-crested cockatoo.

Video

For the Juniors: Making a rain gauge

How do you feel about the rain? This clip explains why rain is so important to farmers. You will see how to make a rain gauge and use it to measure how much rain falls. Farmers measure rainfall so they know when to do different jobs on their farms.

Online

ThinkKind lesson plan archive

This is a collection of lesson plans addressing the ethical treatment of animals and animal welfare. The archive includes lessons focusing the on animal welfare in food production, the treatment of animals in horse racing and the animal needs. Each lesson contains teacher notes and student resources and is aligned to the ...

Interactive

Sites2See: Forests

Online resources for Primary teachers, parents and students to celebrate and engage with the International Year of Forests 2011. Features selected links to games, information, videos and interactive resources for the study of trees and forests and broader issues of biodiversity and sustainability.

Video

Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a platypus

Meet one of the world's most amazing creatures. Listen as Don Spencer describes the features of a platypus. Watch a platypus clean itself and then swim under water to search for food. See what type of animal the platypus catches and feeds on by the water's edge.