Stage 1 NSW Science Unit 1 Living Things Change Over Time Teaching Bundle

Stage 1 NSW Science Teaching Bundle

Unit 1: Living Things Change Over Time

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

Unit Information:

Outcomes:

ST1-SCI-01
measures and describes changes in living things, materials, movement, Earth and the sky

ST1-PQU-01
poses questions based on observations and information to investigate cause and effect

ST1-DAT-01
collects, represents and uses data to identify patterns and relationships

Unit Description:

In this 10-lesson unit, students investigate how living things grow, change and interact over time. Drawing on local habitat observations, hands-on modelling, sequencing tasks and simple investigations, students describe plant and animal life cycles, justify ways to group living things and use evidence to explain change. The unit purposefully integrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge of seasonal cycles and plant use to build cultural understanding of how careful observation informs decision-making. 

Students begin by observing a local habitat and grouping organisms by features and relationships. They then explore plant life cycles in depth (seed to plant; flowers, fruit and seeds), model and measure growth over time, and represent change with tables and column graphs. Building on this foundation, students examine animal life cycles (silkworms, frogs, chickens, turtles, kangaroos), compare stages across species and explain how structure relates to function and survival. In the final phase, students use fossil evidence to infer how life has changed through time, compare extinct Australian megafauna with modern relatives and communicate conclusions with labelled diagrams, models and written explanations.

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

• Group living things by observable features and relationships, justifying choices with evidence.
• Sequence and explain plant and animal life cycle stages, noting similarities and differences across species.
• Measure, record and represent growth data in tables and column graphs, identifying simple patterns.
• Use scientific vocabulary to describe change, structure and function (for example germination, metamorphosis, larva, pupa, adult).
• Explain how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples use knowledge of life cycles to guide harvesting, tools and caring for Country.
• Compare fossils and modern organisms to infer diet, movement and size, recognising that living things change over time.
• Communicate findings clearly through labelled diagrams, models, journals, oral explanations and short reports.
  

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.