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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 solar thermal energy

This resource is a web page containing information about using the Sun's heat to generate electricity. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of focusing the Sun's rays with mirrors to heat a liquid to create steam, which can be used to drive a turbine to generate electricity. It also provides information ...

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About hydroelectricity

This resource is a web page contains information about generating electricity using the energy of flowing water. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of the way in which the potential energy of water in a dam can be used to drive a turbine to generate electricity. It also provides information about hydroelectric ...

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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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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 ...

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NFF: Farm facts 2012

This is a multilayered web page produced by the National Farmers' Federation, which includes links to a 34-page pdf and a Prezi providing a summary of agricultural production in Australia in 2012. These include information about Australian farmers and farms, as well as an overview of farming sectors such as wool, cotton, ...

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Weeds attack!

Weeds attack! is a web-based, multimedia resource with interactive learning activities aimed at preparing students to investigate a local weed of national significance. This is a hands-on project based on the Weed Warriors program. The resource models the activity of growing a bio control for bitou bush, using a games-based ...

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Treetop kangaroos

This ABC In Depth feature article includes everything you wanted or needed to know about tree kangaroos. This article describes their reproduction, classification, adaptations and issues relating to their conservation.

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Carbon is energy

We all use energy every day. Energy is available to us in many different forms - food, heat, electricity, petrol. But where does it all come from? This unit investigates the science of energy, renewable and non-renewable energy sources and how they can be sustained into the future. The unit includes PDF resources and video ...

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Species on the move

This ABC In Depth feature article presents arguments about moving vulnerable species to cooler climates in advance of climate change is a controversial strategy, and whether it could be the best way of ensuring their survival.

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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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Above the snowline

This ABC In Depth feature article gives a range of examples of adaptations and responses of Australian alpine ecosystems, plants and animals to cold conditions.

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The price of peak fuel

This ABC In Depth feature article discusses the projections of how long will our energy resources will last given that our need for fossil fuels is insatiable, but coal, oil, gas and uranium reserves are finite and some may even be in decline. This article is comprehensive, but it is dated at 2008.

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How the sky works

This ABC Astronomy Basics article is an excellent example of simple explanations of many of the phenomena we observe in the sky. Features such as constellations, neighbouring galaxies and nebulae are outlined. It explains that finding constellations and planets in the ever-moving night sky can be challenging. It gives tips ...

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World's deltas subsiding, says study

This brief ABC News in Science article from 2009 describes how two-thirds of the world's major deltas, home to nearly half a billion people, are caught between sinking land and rising seas, according to a new study. A very good example of an explanatory text dealing with examples of the impacts of human activity including ...

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Solar wind gives asteroids a tanning

This brief ABC News in Science article from 2009 explains that asteroids become redder the longer they stay out in the sun because of the solar wind. Scientists are using this to try to find our more about our planetary origins.

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English as an Additional Language: Science Language Literacy Pilot Project

This teacher resource describes a pilot project in which selected Victorian science teachers learnt functional and systemic pedagogical strategies to support English as an Additional Language (EAL) students to understand and use science literacy genres. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; ...