Compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals

This video by the ABC discusses the germination of seeds.

It that describes and explains the ways in which some seeds develop and grow into plants.

The associated web page includes the transcript of the audio and provides helpful guidance for teachers with a set of sound discussion questions to pose to students at each of the following times:

1. Before viewing,
2. As you view,
3. After viewing, and
4. Next steps.

This video would support student learning for Year 4 students being taught these concepts.

This video by the ABC investigates the echidna.

It that can be used to support younger students' understandings of the life cycle and the development of an echidna from birth to adulthood.

This interactive dichotomous key looks at the classification of invertebrates.

The resource is from CSIRO entomology. It is simple to use and enables users to work towards the identification of insects according to their observable features.

Once a particular invertebrate has been chosen, it includes information about their life characteristics, feeding, habitat, and life cycle.

The site also provides links to information about studying invertebrates as well as collecting and preserving them.

This online resource outlines the seven characteristics that define all living things.

It provides details of all seven things, and contrasts this with characteristics of non-living things.

This online resource discusses student misconceptions about living things.

It includes details of possible student misconceptions and how they contrast to scientific views. It outlines critical teaching ideas with references to research and literature to support, and provides ideas for ways to teach these topics to students.

This interactive simulation introduces the concepts of habitat management.

The resource is a Scootle interactive that teaches students how people's actions can have positive and negative impacts on the health of a water environment.

Students learn about the effects of pollution and introduced species, and take positive action to restore the health of a pond by planting native species and removing sources of pollution.

New Australian Curriculum 9 Codes: AC9S6U01 (Year 6)

This unit of work looks at the differences between living things and non-living things.

It is designed to help teachers teach their students learn how to distinguish living things from non-living things, and group them according to their observable features.

Students can then use this knowledge to investigate the animal groups in the leaf litter of their own school grounds.

This unit of work investigates the life cycle of plants.

In this resource, students investigate the processes of pollination and germination, the stages of a plant’s life cycle, and the environmental conditions that plants need for growth.

This downloadable resource explores insects in the garden, and how they may not always be pests.

Although designed for use in a vegetable garden, the activities could also be used in other outdoor locations. It includes an activity where students define an investigative question, research and collect data and interpret their results.

Learning outcomes may vary according to the questions students ask.

Instructions for making a bug catcher are included (optional), and the resource includes an extensive list of online resources.