First scientists
Early Stage 1 - Science and Technology
Program
'First scientists' is an incursion program delivered in schools by Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre staff. Early Stage 1 students engage in a range of hands-on activities to investigate inventions and innovations from Australia’s First Peoples. They explore characteristics of living things, properties of materials and how living things and objects move. Duration: 1 hour.
Important information
Science and Technology K-6 syllabus (2024)
STE-SCI-01
Identifies and describes characteristics of living things, properties of materials, and movement.
Content
Living things have characteristics that help them survive in their environment
- Describe ways Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples use Knowledges of the characteristics of plants and animals to survive
Objects are made of materials that have observable properties
- Explore how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples use natural materials for specific purposes based on their properties
Living things and objects move in different ways
- Identify objects made by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples and describe their movements
- Test how the movement of an object is affected by its shape
Students will participate in a selection of the following activities:
- Is it waterproof? - Use water spray bottles to test a variety of materials to see if they shed or absorb water. Group materials based on observations made.
- Keeping dry - Look at the images of different shelters and use materials supplied to make a model shelter. Test their shelter by spraying it with water.
- Carrying water - Look at the images of different kinds of water carriers. Use the natural materials supplied to make something that will hold water.
- Painting with rock - Look at the samples of different coloured ochre. Use the supplied dry clay to grind the clay into a powder using the grinding stone. Add some water to the powdered clay on the bark and paint several symbols.
- Taking flight - Observe the different shapes of boomerangs. Compare the shape of the wooden returning boomerang with the shape of the model boomerangs. Try throwing a model boomerang. How is the movement of the boomerang affected by its shape?
| Student numbers | This incursion can be delivered to multiple classes over one or more days. |
| Activities | A selection of activities will be included in the one-hour lesson. Please indicate if you would like to request specific activities. |
| Learning spaces | Most activities will require outdoor spaces within the school grounds. In the event of rain or extreme heat, a covered outdoor learning area or school hall may be needed. |