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Activity: from audit to solution

This is a web resource about implementing an energy reduction plan in a school or business that includes a teacher guide and student worksheet. It describes a student activity involving carrying out an energy audit in discussion with school or business leadership. The activity requires students to produce a report with ...

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Activity: coal-fired class debate

This is a web resource about reducing reliance on coal-fired power that provides a student activity accompanied by a teacher guide. It describes a class activity in which students debate the best way to reduce reliance on coal as a source of electricity. The activity requires students to research supporting evidence based ...

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Activity: homework task - energy then and now

This is a web resource about changes in energy use over time that provides a student homework activity and a detailed teacher guide including questions for student discussion. The resource requires students to compare the electrical appliances currently used in their home with those used in the past. The activity encourages ...

Online

Activity: evaluating energy saving technology

This is a web resource that provides a student activity involving evaluating technologies that can reduce the use of non-renewable energy resources, accompanied by a teacher guide. The activity requires students to research and evaluate a particular technology such as solar panels or wind turbines and produce a diagram ...

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Rainforest fruit power

This ABC In Depth feature article discusses human potential use rainforest fruit-bearing plants and the need to maintain biodiversity. Many biotic interactions that effect reproduction and dispersal are described. Issues about using seed banks to try to maintain biodiversity are discussed.

Online

Water: learn it for life! - year 7 science

This PDF unit of work is one of a series of resources accessible by searching the list in the series.It includes two teaching and learning sequences: 'Water journeys' focuses on the water cycle, and 'Pure water' focuses on the processes and people involved in creating and managing drinkable water. It provides Australian ...

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About wind energy

This resource is a web page containing information about using wind energy to generate electricity. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of how a wind turbine is used to generate electricity, and provides information about wind energy production and use in Australia. There is a link to a printable PDF ...

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About bioenergy

This resource is a web page that includes information on clean energy sources including generating electricity using waste organic matter (biomass). Using sugar-cane offcuts as an example, the resource gives a brief description of one way in which organic waste can be used to generate electricity. It defines the terms bioenergy, ...

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About geothermal energy

This resource is a web page that includes information about generating electricity using the heat from beneath the Earth's surface. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of pumping water deep underground to extract heat from hot fractured rocks, and using the steam generated to drive a turbine. It also ...

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About marine energy

This resource is a web page containing information about using the ocean's currents, tides or waves to generate electricity. It gives a brief description, with annotated diagrams, of one system that uses the movement of water to push hydraulic pistons which drive turbines. It also provides information about the potential ...

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Clean energy: lesson ideas

This teacher resource provides an extensive list of suggested classroom activities that can be used to explore ideas related to clean energy sources, energy conservation and energy efficiency. The activities are grouped by learning area: science/technology, mathematics, SOSE/humanities, English, the arts, health and physical ...

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Trees and chairs as carbon sinks

This ABC is in Q&A format and simply explains the answer to the question 'Could we really plant our way out of climate change?'

Interactive

The water cycle for kids

This interactive resource is a pictorial water-cycle diagram accompanied by an explanation. The resource shows an illustration of a landscape with stylised water drops representing changes of state such as precipitation and evaporation. The visual style is designed to be engaging to children. Simplified versions of the ...

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Forest learning: forests in environmental protection

This resource is a six-page pdf produced by Forest and Wood Products Australia discussing how forests help to preserve the environment. It includes sections on: water quality, air pollution, and particulate matter. The resource also includes two science activities: collecting water samples, and testing air quality. It is ...

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Researchers find grain's memory gene

This brief ABC News in Science article from 2009 gives an excellent example of responses of plants to temperature change and current Australian science. Plants use a genetic memory to recognise when it is spring and can even count the number of cold days.

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Ibis Invasion

This ABC In Depth feature article describes research on Australian white ibis - or 'tip turkeys' as many call them. They are regarded as a nuisance in cities, especially in the spring breeding season. But scientists fear they may become extinct as more pressure is put on the wetlands that are their native and adopted environments. ...

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Orchids: Nature's sexy sirens

This ABC In Depth feature article is an excellent resource for students researching adaptations for pollination in Australian plants. Provides many interesting examples of the interdependence of plants, fungi and animals.

Online

Food for thought: learn resources for science

This is a rich resource for teachers about the impact of climate change on small-scale farmers. It includes two sets of resources, one for the primary level and the other for the secondary level. Each set of resources includes: a teacher guide with learning activities; worksheets for students; crop cards; and a PowerPoint ...

Online

Activity: biodiversity is more than the sum

This is a web resource that provides a teacher guide for student activities about biodiversity. The teacher guide provides lesson plans for the activities involving research, presentation of findings and peer assessment, and includes background information about biodiversity as well as a list of suggested research topics. ...

Online

Activity: cool questions and activities about wildlife

This is a web resource that provides a teacher guide for a class lesson about types of living things, accompanied by a student activity sheet. The teacher guide provides a lesson plan with questions about mammals, birds, insects and plants and suggests a class discussion about why we need them. The student activity sheet ...