Science Week 2020: The Deep Blue Innovation for the Future of our Oceans |
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This year National Science Week is all about the ocean, engaging students in ocean science and supporting young people to be active and aware of science-driven research. We have projects for all year levels – from understanding our impact on the ocean, marine life and its importance in the eco-system to citizen science projects to get your students active and engaged in our environment through science.
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Latest releases for all year levels:
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Student ResourcesCool Australia’s Digital Library is full of images, articles and activities to help kids research. Complete Digital Libraries
Quick Fact Sheets |
2040 : The Regeneration
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2040 Science Unit (Years 7-10)
Each lesson in this unit can be taught as a stand-alone or in a sequence. However you decide to engage with the content, we strongly advise you to complete the teaching and learning by taking social action using the A 2040 Vision For Your Community lesson. There is also a really great lesson for Year 7 Science looking at Seaweed in the Food Chain. |
Designed to introduce your students to climate change and its causes, as well as looking at the science behind a range of real-world solutions that are active today!
Blue The FilmBlue changes the way we think about our liquid world and inspires the audience to action. Along with the film is an ambitious global campaign to create advocacy and behaviour change through the #oceanguardian movement. To access the lessons and learn more about our oceans, click here. |
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Early Learning Lessons:
Science week doesn’t need to be just for the big kids! Discover the ocean with younger students through interactive play-based learning. These activities let you bring ocean science into your early learning centre or daycare classroom, engaging kids with our environment and introducing scientific thinking to younger children.
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Blue:
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Snappy Science:
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Engage children with the wonders of the ocean, how we use it and how we experience it. Children are invited to make a little sea at their centre and to think about what animals and objects might be found in their sea. |
Discover the beauty of coral reefs and the role they play in supporting life in our ocean. Then create your own coral reef in the room. |
Encourage children to think about some of the animals that live in our oceans. Older children can explore fish, turtles and sharks by participating in role-plays that will help them understand some of the physical and life cycle features of these animals. |
Primary Lessons
Featured below are some of our favourite ocean science lessons – these are quick ‘Snappy Science’ experiments and lessons that look at our amazing sea creatures.
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Blue:
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Who are your
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Snappy Science: How does pollution
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Foundation, Years 1 & 2 Students explore marine turtles by investigating the life cycle of marine turtles and then engaging in a guided discussion. This lesson includes English and Science Curriculum links. |
Foundation, Years 1 & 2 Discover the biological life of shearwaters. Students begin by exploring the basic needs required for life, and learn what shearwaters eat, where they live, how they raise chicks, and their migration journeys. |
Years 1 & 2 In this activity students role-play animals of the ocean and are asked to think about how these creatures interact with each other, and how these interactions are important to the life and health of the ocean. |
All Primary It’s time for a real science experiment – investigate the effects of ocean pollution by submerging sea shells into water and vinegar. |
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Learn@Home:
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Threats to
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STEM: Solutions For
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Snappy Science:
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Years 3 & 4 Would you like to swim in an ocean or river full of rubbish and dirty water? Imagine what the creatures who call water home think about it! Create a poster reminding people to protect waterways. This is a good activity for kids to complete independently. |
Years 4 – 6 This lesson comes in two parts. In Part One, students learn about marine turtles and the threats facing them. Students begin by looking at some of the physical characteristics of marine turtles and their life cycle. |
Years 5 & 6 |
All Primary It’s time for a real science experiment! In this experiment, students will learn about surface tension by creating an experiment using cardboard fish, water and liquid soap. |
Secondary lessons:
Citizen Science: Mangrove Watch Years 9 – 12Get students actively involved in science and become part of a Citizen Science Project. MangroveWatch is a citizen science program hosted by Earthwatch Australia and James Cook University. The MangroveWatch citizen science program provides tools, methods and training to assist students and the wider community in helping scientists gather data on the extent and health of Australia’s mangroves and salt marshes, known collectively as tidal wetlands. Through citizen science, MangroveWatch scientists hope to assist the conservation of tidal wetlands, getting much-needed help obtaining qualitative and quantitative data about causes and effects of tidal wetland degradation. The information collected by citizen scientists as part of the MangroveWatch program helps scientists identify areas where tidal wetlands are unhealthy and at risk of loss and identify the cause. This data will be analysed to formulate ways of protecting mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems that are provided to coastal managers to help reduce human impacts and design tidal wetland restoration programs. |
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Hydro Tasmania and
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Design a
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Blue:
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Earth Hour:
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Years 7 & 8 Students will explore a website and then discuss core principles of sustainable energy production in relation to the operations of Hydro Tasmania. They will consider points of difference between sustainable and non-sustainable practices of companies and individuals and how these practices affect the Earth and its people. |
Year 9 Work in groups or as a class to research the biotic and abiotic conditions required to support a shallow-water coral reef, and use this research to create a 3D model of a reef. Students will be asked to work to a design brief and to provide supporting information to accompany their 3D design, and must present their reef and justify their response to the brief. |
Year 9 Students are invited to engage in a hands-on activity to help them visualise connections between the different components of an ecosystem. Students will begin the lesson by watching a clip about coral bleaching, and then explore the relationship between human activities and the health of ocean ecosystems and organisms. |
Lower to Middle Secondary Investigate the process of ocean acidification, and in particular the role of water temperature in CO2 absorption. Students will then summarise their knowledge of ocean acidification in the form of an advertising campaign. |