This unit is designed to compliment the recent unit rolled out by NSW Education Department 2025. It is based on the unit of work Unit 2 how living things depend on each other, Earth’s systems and energy to survive. The learning outcomes of this unit are

• Living things depend on energy and materials to survive
• Digital systems can be created and controlled

16 hourly lessons plus 4 hours of additional/optional content. (1 term's work)

This unit teaches students to explore how living things depend on each other, Earth’s systems and energy to survive. They investigate the relationship between habitats, ecosystems and environments. Students learn to conduct fair tests by examining how soil, water and light affect plant growth, and represent their results digitally.

Syllabus outcomes

• ST2-SCI-01 uses information to investigate the solar system and the effects of energy on living, physical and geological systems
• ST2-PQU-01 poses questions to create fair tests that investigate the effects of energy on living things and physical systems
• ST2-DAT-01 uses and interprets data to describe patterns and relationships
• ST2-DDT-02 designs and uses algorithms, represents data and uses digital systems for a purpose

What is included in this pack?

• PowerPoint with over 540 slides (editable)
• Student workbook and assessment tasks
• PDF for easy printing
• Teaching notes under each slide
• Quick links to units.
• Sections for each lesson included in the PowerPoint presentation.
• Self Assessment tasks.
• Video links
• Created for use with the IWB.
• Suggested teaching prep for each lesson.
• Outcomes and indicators included for each lesson.

Important note

The font which has been used in this presentation is the Google font Edu NSW ACT foundation which needs to be downloaded onto your computer (this can be done by clicking on the blue link provided). You must restart your device once installed and all of the formatting will be correctly in place. This step is VERY important otherwise your units will be misaligned.

This is a comprehensive unit which will save you hours and hours of preparation time. It is important at the start of each lesson that you read the teaching notes as there is some Lesson preparation needed for some lessons. These include printing sets of cards in some lessons, printing worksheets for assessment purposes so that work samples are available for each child.

Some things you will need for this unit:

• chart paper
• anchor charts
• lidded jar or container for each student (or pairs of students)
• potting mix suitable for indoor plants
• masks (when using potting mix)
• small plants such as moss or ground covers
• small stones or pebbles
• sphagnum moss or small sections of gauze
• water in a spray bottle
• individual white boards
• a variety or information books on plants, animals and the environment to support students' use of noun groups
• writing materials
• access to digital devices
• aluminium foil
• identical small weights ( e.g. coins or marbles
• large tub/tray of water (wide and shallow)
• cardboard box
• transparent cups
• measuring spoon
• seeds
• magnets or blutak
• Book:wolves by Emily Gravett (Video version has been inserted into the presentation)
• sticky notes
• crepe paper
• straws or pipe cleaners
• Book: The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants by Suzanne Houghton (alternative video about carnivorous plants has been inserted into the presentation)
• Book: Alight by Sam Lloyd (Link to publisher page with excerpt provided)
• materials for a fair test

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and Cultures: when planning and programming content relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander histories and Cultures, teachers are encouraged to:

• involve local Aboriginal Communities and/or appropriate Knowledge Holders in determining suitable resources
• use Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-authored or endorsed publications
• read the principles and protocols relating to teaching and learning about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander histories and Cultures and the involvement of local Aboriginal Communities.

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources has been developed to assist teachers in selecting appropriate resources for teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, Cultures and Languages respectfully and effectively.

TOU

• Printing and Use: You may print this product for your personal use or for use within your own classroom. Sharing printed copies with other teachers, schools, or organisations is not allowed.
• You MAY make one copy for backup purposes, but not with the intent to redistribute.
• Please buy additional licenses if more than one teacher in your school is going to be using it.
• This is not to be sold for commercial use.
• You may not repackage, sell or give away part of all of this product to others.
• You may not offer or share part or all of this product anywhere on the internet as a download or copy including, but not limited to, personal sites or school sites that are on a page that is open to the public, sharing google drive links with others that are not your students or their family, internet or email small sharing groups, shared databases , open education resource groups such as Amazon inspire.
• You may not use on commercial sites such as OUTSCHOOL

Attribution is given to © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2025.