Early Stage 1 NSW Science Unit 1 Living Things Can Survive Teaching Bundle

Early Stage 1 NSW Science Teaching Bundle

Unit 1: Living Things Can Survive

This comprehensive teaching bundle has been carefully designed to align with the NSW Science and Technology syllabus for Early Stage 1. It provides everything you need to teach Unit 1: Living Things Can Survive in a way that is engaging, interactive, and fully curriculum-aligned - while saving you countless hours of preparation.

Unit Information:

Living things have characteristics that help them survive in their environment

Outcomes:

STE-SCI-01: identifies and describes characteristics of living things, properties of materials, and movement

STE-PQU-01: poses questions based on observations to collect data

Unit Description:

In this unit, students explore how living things use their senses, body parts, and behaviours to survive in their environment. Students will learn to identify the five senses and their associated sense organs, describe their functions, and investigate how tools can enhance our ability to observe the world around us. Through hands-on investigations and guided observations, students examine how living things - including humans, animals, and plants - meet their basic needs for air, water, and energy.

Students investigate the structures and functions of plant parts such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit, and discover how plants produce their own food. They explore how animals differ from plants in obtaining food, and examine the external features, coverings, and eating habits of different animals. Students group animals based on shared characteristics and provide reasons for their classifications.

The unit also incorporates Indigenous perspectives by exploring how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples observe and use specific characteristics of plants and animals for survival, tools, food, and medicine. Students develop an understanding of how deep cultural knowledge of living things supports sustainable practices and connection to Country.

What’s Included

Detailed Unit of Work

Fully planned lessons structured around the I Do, We Do, You Do explicit teaching model.

Clear Learning Intentions and Success Criteria for every lesson.

Whole-class explicit teaching supported by partner and independent evidence-based practice.

Hands-on activities and science experiments that promote deep critical thinking.

STEM and inquiry-based opportunities such as craft, posters, and model-making.

Joint construction activities that guide students in building knowledge collaboratively.

Reflection and consolidation tasks to reinforce learning.

Built-in extension and fast-finisher opportunities for differentiation.

Assessment Opportunities

Ongoing formative and observational assessment embedded in lessons.

Pre- and Post-Assessment tasks with a detailed marking rubric to identify if students are working above, at, or below stage expectations.

Complete answer keys to support easy and consistent marking.

Engaging Digital and Print Resources

Teaching slides that directly complement the written unit.

Interactive elements including embedded online games, digital tasks, videos, and high-quality images.

Student worksheets for independent tasks with full answer keys.

A Science Journal for students to record reflections, develop subject-specific vocabulary, and track their learning journey.

Reporting Support

A set of report comment banks tailored to this unit with 6 comments per grade (A–E):

A = Outstanding

B = High

C = Sound

D = Basic

E = Limited

File Type:

This teaching bundle consists of both pdf and PowerPoint files.

The teaching slides have been made in PowerPoint but are Google Slide compatible.

To use in Google slides you will need to:

Upload the PPT file to your Google drive first.

Open in Google slide

Click file - Save as Google slide.

Please note that some formatting, font issues may occur when using in Google slides as they were designed in PowerPoint.

Why Teachers Love It

Aligned directly to the NSW curriculum.

Combines explicit instruction with hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Includes everything from planning documents to slides, assessments, student resources, and reporting support.

Designed to save you hours and hours of preparation, so you can focus on teaching and engaging your students.

No refunds will be issued under any circumstances. This is a digital product and cannot be returned. Please make sure you read the description carefully to ensure that you know exactly what you are buying. 

This product is protected by Copyright Laws. The design, concept, and layout of this product is strictly the intellectual property of The Busy Honey Bee. This is for personal or single-classroom use only. By purchasing or downloading this resource, you agree to the following terms:

Non-Transferable: This product may not be shared, resold, redistributed, or posted on any online platform (including personal or school websites) for public or private use, even in a password-protected format.

No Modifications: Due to the inclusion of interactive features, licensed fonts, and clipart, this product is non-editable. Modifying or altering the product in any way to create derivative works is strictly prohibited.

Commercial Use Prohibited: This resource is for educational purposes only and may not be used for commercial purposes, including training sessions, workshops, or seminars where it will be shared or distributed.

Digital Sharing Restrictions: This product may not be uploaded to any cloud-based storage or shared digitally with others. It is intended solely for the purchaser's direct use with their students.

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.