Science / Year 3 / Science understanding / Biological sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals (AC9S3U01)

Elaborations
  • classifying a collection of objects as living, once living or non-living and explaining their reasoning
  • observing and describing differences between metamorphic (such as butterflies, beetles or frogs) and non-metamorphic life cycles of animals, including humans
  • comparing the physical characteristics of an animal such as a frog or moth with its activity at different stages of its life cycle
  • representing stages of a plant or animal’s life cycle using drawings, digital photographs, graphic organisers or concrete materials
  • investigating how First Nations Australians understand and utilise the life cycles of certain species
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
ScOT terms

Living things,  Animal reproduction,  Breeding cycles,  Similarity (Classification),  Plant reproduction

Interactive

Make it alive: spotted tree frogs

Investigate the stream habitat of the endangered spotted tree frog. Discover what these frogs eat in the developing stages of their life. Find enough food so the frogs develop from the tadpole stage through to adulthood. Help the tadpoles escape from predatory fish such as the introduced rainbow trout. Search for safe places ...

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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.

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Ngan'gi seasons calendar

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Gooniyandi seasons calendar

This is the Mingayooroo - Manyi Waranggiri Yarrangi, Gooniyandi seasons calendar developed by people of the Gooniyandi language group of the Kimberley in collaboration with CSIRO. The resource consists of an introduction, a richly illustrated calendar and related links. The introduction contains information about the people’s ...

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This is a web resource that provides a teacher guide for a class lesson about types of living things, accompanied by a student activity sheet. The teacher guide provides a lesson plan with questions about mammals, birds, insects and plants and suggests a class discussion about why we need them. The student activity sheet ...

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Field guide to South Australian Fauna - Google Play app

View descriptions of South Australian fauna together with maps of distribution, images and endangered species rating. Animals are grouped by mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, birds or insects and other invertebrates. Info pages include images and animal sounds. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.

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Field Guide to Tasmanian Fauna - Google Play app

View descriptions of Tasmanian fauna together with maps of distribution, images and endangered species rating. Animals are grouped by mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, birds or insects and other invertebrates. Info pages include images and animal sounds. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.

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Field Guide to Northern Territory Fauna - Google play app

View descriptions of Northern Territory fauna together with maps of distribution, images and endangered species rating. Animals are grouped by mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, birds or insects and other invertebrates. Info pages include images and animal sounds. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.

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Field guide to Victorian Fauna - iTunes app

View descriptions of Victorian fauna together with maps of distribution, images and endangered species rating. Animals are grouped by mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, birds or insects and other invertebrates. Info pages include images and animal sounds. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.

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Field guide to Queensland Fauna - iTunes app

View descriptions of Queensland fauna together with maps of distribution, images and endangered species rating. Animals are grouped by mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, birds or insects and other invertebrates. Info pages include images and animal sounds. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.

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For the Juniors: Breathing under the water

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Field Guide to Western Australian Fauna - iTunes app

View descriptions of Western Australian fauna together with maps of distribution, images and endangered species rating. Animals are grouped by mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, birds or insects and other invertebrates. Info pages include images and animal sounds. Free when reviewed on 12/5/2015.