Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre

Telephone02 9542 1951

Emailroyalnatpk-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Living things change

Science and Technology – Living World

Supports the Primary Connections unit – Watch it grow!

Students investigate how living things change as they grow through hands-on activities and scientific investigations.

Program feedback

"Practical activities with living things in our local environment outside the classroom. Thank you. RNPEEC teachers are fantastic!"

Key syllabus outcomes

A student:

  • observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas ST1-1WS-S
  • describes observable features of living things and their environments ST1-4LW-S

Skills focus – working scientifically

Planning and conducting investigations

  • explore and answer questions through participation in guided scientific investigations (ACSIS025, ACSIS038)
  • collect data from observations
  • record observations accurately and honestly using observational drawings, labelling, informal measurements and digital technologies (ACSIS026, ACSIS039)
  • compare observations with those of others (ACSIS041, ACSIS213)
  • make safe choices when using materials and equipment

Processing and analysing data

  • use a range of methods to sort and collate information
  • represent information using drawings and simple tables, including digital representation methods (ACSIS027, ACSIS040)

Inquiry question

  • How do living things change as they grow?

Content

Living things change

Students:

  • explore how living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (ACSSU030) SciT
  • record the changes in growth of a common plant or animal, using uniform informal units and appropriate technologies ComT SysT

Learning experiences

Students:

  • observe life stages of animals through hands-on activities such as dipnetting for water invertebrates and searching for land invertebrates
  • model a life cycle using natural materials
  • observe life stages of plants
  • collect and compare seed pods and create ephemeral art or scratch art

Recommended excursion site