Education Resources

Exploring what scientists do

This resource gives students an opportunity to engage in scientific inquiry through the application of working scientifically skills/inquiry skills. The document provides a systematic, step by step scaffold of a scientific investigation using secondary data of atmospheric measurements made on the grounds of Liverpool Girls' High School from March 2019 to February 2020. This resource is suitable for Years 7-10.

Students will:

• propose a hypothesis after researching relevant background information
• process and analyse data and information
• create a graph and interpret results
• communicate the process and findings of their investigation in the form of a scientific report
• increase their understanding of the atmosphere and the factors that influence it

Groundwater science

Water is a resource that needs careful management to ensure it is used sustainably. In this data set, students analyse real research data about the sustainability of groundwater on Rottnest Island. These activities are suitable for students in Years 7 to 10.

Students will:

• understand the concepts of groundwater and aquifers and the role of the water cycle
• use MS Excel to construct simple graphs (or draw graphs by hand)
• interpret and analyse graphs and other representations of data
• investigate the effects of a changing climate on groundwater resources
• distinguish between correlation and causation

Investigating isotopes

Learn about isotopes using real examples and real data, including comprehensive isotopic data of the first twenty chemical elements in the periodic table (hydrogen to calcium). Teachers can use the accompanying worksheet, in sections or in its entirety, to develop student literacy, numeracy, critical and creative thinking and ICT skills. These activities are suitable for students in Years 9 to 12.

Students will:

• learn how the number of neutrons and protons in an isotope affects its nuclear properties
• construct a section of the table of isotopes, using MS Excel
• investigate the properties and uses of different isotopes

Radionuclides in medicine

Radionuclides have been used routinely in medicine for more than 60 years. Nuclear medicine uses radiation to provide information about the functioning of a person's specific organs to diagnose or treat disease. The radionuclides used in medicine have half-lives ranging from a few minutes to several days to minimise the patient's radiation dose. 

Students will:

• use MS Excel to construct simple graphs of decay of three unknown medical radionuclides
• use their graph to calculate the half-life of the radionuclides
• determine the identity and use of each radionuclide using the background information provided.

Historic greenhouse gas concentrations from Antarctic ice core sampling

ANSTO Physicist Andrew Smith collaborates with international scientists to study historical greenhouse gas concentrations from Antarctic ice core samples. This data set contains temperature records and concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane from the last 800,000 years. 

Students will:

• read suggested articles relating to the increase in concentration of greenhouse gases 
• construct graphs using the data provided
• use the knowledge and understanding acquired from reading the suggested articles and their constructed graphs to answer questions provided

Ocean Blue Incursion outline and syllabus

Students learn about life in the ocean and the features and behaviours needed for living near the surface and in the deep sea. The properties of seawater are also considered, as well as human impacts. Incorporates an enjoyable playground game and choice of hands-on STEM activity.

Colour & Light STEAM Incursion outline and syllabus

Students learn about light and the colour spectrum, why objects are coloured, differences between coloured light and pigment and how our eyes see colour and light. They engage in two hands-on activities that combine science with art and encourage creative exploration of colour and light.

Shorebirds & Wetlands Incursion outline and syllabus

Students are introduced to shorebirds and their wetland habitats. They encounter the incredible journeys of our migratory shorebirds and how they connect wetlands in a fun playground game. Students also participate in a hands-on adaptations activity and learn about environmental research conducted at ANSTO.

Destination Moon! Incursion outline and syllabus

In this half-day incursion, we uncover the surprising science of the Moon and look at past and future lunar missions. Students are guided through two hands-on STEM activities and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Shorebirds 2022 TPD program

Teachers can involve their classes in this engaging learning opportunity, with free professional development and comprehensive lesson plans, linked to the Australian Curriculum for Science, Geography and English.