Stage 2 Australian NSW Science Unit 1 Living Things Depend on Energy and Materials to Survive Teaching Bundle

Unit Information:

Curriculum Alignment

• NSW Science Curriculum 2024-2025
• Australian Curriculum V9

NSW Outcomes:

Australian Curriculum V9 Outcomes:

AC9S4U01 explain the roles and interactions of consumers, producers and decomposers within a habitat and how food chains represent feeding relationships
AC9S4I01 pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations
AC9S4I02 use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment
AC9S4I04 construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns
AC9S4I05 compare findings with those of others, consider if investigations were fair, identify questions for further investigation and draw conclusions
AC9S4I06 write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate

Unit Description:

In this ten-lesson unit, students explore how living things depend on energy and materials to survive. They investigate how the Earth’s systems (the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere) interact to support life. Through inquiry and hands-on investigations, students examine how plants and animals rely on these systems for air, water, food, and shelter.

Students conduct fair tests to explore how light, water, and soil affect plant growth. They study habitats and ecosystems in Australia’s rainforests, deserts, and aquatic environments, recognising the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and practices such as cultural burning in maintaining balance within ecosystems.

The unit builds toward a project where students design and present a model habitat and food chain to show energy transfer and interdependence in living systems. By collecting and interpreting data, students describe relationships between living and non-living components in their chosen environment.

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

• Identify and describe the four systems of the Earth and their connections.
• Explain how Earth’s systems provide for the needs of living things.
• Pose questions and conduct fair tests related to energy and growth.
• Interpret data to identify patterns and relationships in ecosystems.
• Create and present a model habitat and food chain showing interdependence.
• Recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of caring for ecosystems.
  

What’s Included

Detailed Unit of Work