Science: A STEM approach – Foundation online resources
Welcome to the Science: A STEM approach online resource centre. Simply click on the resource you need and it will open in a new window. You can also click any of the unit titles below to jump directly to that section. If you can't find something you need, or have found a broken link, let us know and we'll fix it.
Biological sciences I Chemical sciences I Earth and space sciences I Physical sciences
| Unit | Lesson | Page | Original link | New link (with description) | Replacement activity (if required) |
| Biological sciences | 1 | 4 |
http://tinyurl.com/ltyr98w |
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| Biological sciences | 1 | 4 |
http://tinyurl.com/hc753pz |
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| Biological sciences | 2 | 8 |
http://tinyurl.com/4nzqrmo |
As a class, display the interactive activity at <https://tinyurl.com/y22eqbdy> and choose students to click on living or non-living for each item from the scene. Students explain their reasoning behind each choice in terms of its basic needs. Alternatively students can brainstorm living things and explain their needs orally. | |
| Biological sciences | 2 | 8 |
http://tinyurl.com/yakylwha |
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| Biological sciences | 3 | 12 |
http://tinyurl.com/zccgqxp |
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| Biological sciences | 3 | 12 |
http://tinyurl.com/ngwkup4 |
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| Biological sciences | 4 | 16 |
http://tinyurl.com/m2nu9qq |
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| Biological sciences | 4 | 16 |
http://tinyurl.com/nxnz4j8 |
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| Biological sciences | 6 | 22 |
http://tinyurl.com/n7amfa8 |
Display the interactive game 'Happy cats' at <https://tinyurl.com/yxlqrozh>. Read the statements aloud with the students and select students to choose the answer. Why do you think a fishing rod or toy is something that a cat needs? Do you think this is correct? Who is responsible for providing these needs to pets? | |
| Biological sciences | 6 | 22 |
http://tinyurl.com/zujcunn |
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| Biological sciences | PROJECT | 29 |
http://www.storyjumper.com |
Story jumper | |
| Biological sciences | PROJECT | 31 |
http://tinyurl.com/kyh7zhf |
YouTube video—Rio – Official trailer | HQ | |
| Chemical sciences | 2 | 44 |
http://tinyurl.com/yyh98g |
BBC bitesize activity—How to identify materials | Display the game at the bottom of the page, where students need to choose the correct object based on the material it is made from—wood, fabric, glass, metal, plastic. Ask students to explain why they think the object is made from that material with reference to its observable properties. |
| Chemical sciences | 4 | 50 |
http://tinyurl.com/mpnxgva |
Image—Which of these things are made of fabric? | |
| Chemical sciences | 5 | 54 |
http://tinyurl.com/y7cfhkow |
Image—The three little pigs | |
| Chemical sciences | 5 | 54 |
http://tinyurl.com/yd9awo34 |
YouTube video—Houses around the world | Read the book Houses around the world by Judy Nayer or listen to the online reading at <https://tinyurl.com/yytp8oqx>. View the images of different houses and discuss the materials they are made from. Compare similarities and differences between the houses. |
| Chemical sciences | 6 | 58 |
http://pbskids.org/sid/weatherwheel.html |
ABCya activity—Dress for the weather |
Students participate in an online activity at <https://www.abcya.com/games/dress_for_the_weather>, where they select appropriate clothing for the weather and temperature, by observing the conditions and thermometer. Students should be encouraged to explain why they chose each piece of clothing. N.B. Discuss briefly that fall is the American term for autumn. |
| Chemical sciences | PROJECT | 65 |
http://tinyurl.com/ybgctckr |
YouTube video—Kids boat race 09 | |
| Chemical sciences | PROJECT | 65 |
http://tinyurl.com/y7yk8hdt |
YouTube video—Learn about sailboats for children | Educational video for kids by Brain Candy TV | |
| Chemical sciences | PROJECT | 65 |
http://tinyurl.com/2ats75 |
YouTube video—3C Materials song | … then play the song at <https://tinyurl.com/jqconk9> to reiterate the purpose for choosing different materials based on their properties. |
| Earth and space sciences | 1 | 76 |
http://tinyurl.com/y86d4dmt |
YouTube video—Check out the weather | |
| Earth and space sciences | 1 | 76 |
http://tinyurl.com/lkopqz8 |
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| Earth and space sciences | 2 | 80 |
http://tinyurl.com/yb23zpu6 |
Read the book Hello world: weather by Jill McDonald, or watch a reading online at <https://tinyurl.com/y3mdl3sb>. Pause the video after each weather condition for students to use a think-pair-share to describe what they might see or feel in each weather type, and what types of clothing they would wear and activities they would do. | |
| Earth and space sciences | 2 | 80 |
http://tinyurl.com/jkjkwnz |
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| Earth and space sciences | 3 | 84, 85 |
http://tinyurl.com/2a9zbqw |
1. As a class, view or download the following images which depict Australia in different seasons. Summer image: https://tinyurl.com/y5szuecq Winter image: https://tinyurl.com/y2t7ab9y Autumn image: https://tinyurl.com/yx9q2oau Spring image: https://tinyurl.com/yyq99dm5. Note: Do not tell students which season each image is. Discuss what the weather is like in each image. Ask students to describe how they know what the weather is like in the photographs. What things can you see that give you clues about the weather? 2. Explain that the images represent four seasons—summer, autumn, winter and spring. Using a show of hands ask students to vote for which season they think each image is showing. |
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| Earth and space sciences | 3 | 84, 85 | flickr image—Winter | ||
| Earth and space sciences | 3 | 84, 85 | flickr images—Autumn | ||
| Earth and space sciences | 3 | 84, 85 | flickr image—Spring | ||
| Earth and space sciences | 3 | 84 |
http://tinyurl.com/hzd49l3 |
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| Earth and space sciences | 4 | 88 |
http://tinyurl.com/lbu8qpl |
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Earth and space sciences |
4 | 88 |
http://tinyurl.com/o3vag2o |
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| Earth and space sciences | 4 | 88 |
http://tinyurl.com/y9cy79ts |
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| Earth and space sciences | 4 | 88 |
http://tinyurl.com/yc6rp2ov |
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| Earth and space sciences | 5 | 92 |
http://tinyurl.com/y7yzqn7d |
1. View the time lapse video of 'A forest year' at <https://vimeo.com/59095595>. Students predict which season is showing as the video plays. Using a think-pair-share, students describe the features of the trees as the season changes. How do plants appear to change in each season? 3. As a class, watch The seasons of Arnold's apple tree at <https://tinyurl.com/y5hrrlrp>. Together, make a list of the changes that occur to the tree during each season. Reinforce that plants grow leaves and flowers and begin to blossom during spring. Towards the end of spring and through summer, some trees begin to grow fruit. In autumn, the fruit from the trees is harvested (collected) and trees begin to shed their leaves. In winter, some trees will appear like lifeless sticks until the sunshine returns in spring. Note: These are general seasonal changes among plants. Specialised adaptations also help individual species survive and these will be discussed in Year 5. 4. Watch Animals seasons at <https://tinyurl.com/yy74kbcu>. In pairs, students discuss one thing about each season that the video mentions and come up with any questions they may have. |
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| Earth and space sciences | 5 | 92, 93 | YouTube video—The seasons of Arnold's apple tree read aloud | ||
| Earth and space sciences | 5 | 92, 93 | YouTube video—1 animals seasons | ||
| Earth and space sciences | 5 | 92 |
http://tinyurl.com/hydhogj |
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| Earth and space sciences | 6 | 96 |
http://tinyurl.com/mzdj3gr |
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| Earth and space sciences | 6 | 96 | |||
| Earth and space sciences | 6 | 97 |
http://tinyurl.com/yayr3g5y |
4. Display the pictorial diagram of Kakadu seasons on page 98. This shows another idea of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander seasons. Alternatively, a colour version can be viewed online at <https://tinyurl.com/y4fhsjld>. Count the number of seasons. Look at where the wet and dry seasons are shown. Discuss the weather for each season and the images of food available. Why would it be important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to know about the animals and bush fruit of each season? | |
| Earth and space sciences | PROJECT | 103 |
http://tinyurl.com/ya6fthqo |
YouTube video—Build your own weather station Part 1 – A rain gauge | |
| Earth and space sciences | PROJECT | 103 |
http://tinyurl.com/y88j9289 |
YouTube video—How to make a bottle thermometer | Full-time kid | PBS Parents | |
| Earth and space sciences | PROJECT | 103 |
http://tinyurl.com/yaaen2r9 |
YouTube video—DIY Pinwheel Easy kids science | |
| Earth and space sciences | PROJECT | 105 |
http://tinyurl.com/y7ma9oup |
YouTube video—Peppa Pig pen pal | |
| Earth and space sciences | PROJECT | 105 |
http://www.studentsoftheworld.info |
Global Penfriends | |
| Physical sciences | 1 | 116 | |||
| Physical sciences | 1 | 116 | |||
| Physical sciences | 1 | 116 |
http://tinyurl.com/39kn3s7 |
Play along with Ways animals move quiz at <https://tinyurl.com/y468mabo>. Encourage students to describe which body part they use to move and why the statements about each animal are true or false. Alternatively use some of the pre-prepared animal cards on page 118. | |
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Physical sciences |
1 | 116 |
http://tinyurl.com/yag3ytt7 |
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| Physical sciences | 2 | 120 |
http://tinyurl.com/gr95aow |
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Physical sciences |
3 | 124 |
http://tinyurl.com/yby8pq9f |
YouTube video—Do large balls roll faster and further than small balls? |
Watch the video at <https://tinyurl.com/yy5po44m>, which shows how balls of different sizes and weights roll down a ramp. Discuss which object rolled the fastest and which object rolled the furthest. |
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Physical sciences |
5 | 132 |
http://tinyurl.com/y79zljba |
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| Physical sciences | PROJECT | 139 |
http://tinyurl.com/zjddfgd |
YouTube video—Incline plane – Sid the science kid – The Jim Henson Company | |
| Physical sciences | PROJECT | 139 |
http://tinyurl.com/y8wqajez |
Image | |
| Physical sciences | PROJECT | 141 |
http://tinyurl.com/y9qlpox6 |
YouTube video—Cardboard race track! |