Lessons for years 5 and 6

Overview

This page contains engaging lesson plans that can be used to create a gender neutral learning environment.

The Bee Habitat lesson is one that was specifically written for The GiST and includes Girls in Focus recommendations.

A selection of lessons have had Girls in Focus recommendations added.

The other lessons on this page are considered to be relevant STEM approaches which you may use to apply the Seven Principles for Gender Inclusive Lessons. 

Girls in focus lessons

Croc Resourceful Or A Resources

Crocs: resourceful or a resource

This lesson focuses on the analysis of a dataset that records scientific data collected about the crocodile population in the Kimberley region during 2015. The lesson follows an inquiry process where students use the dataset to answer relevant questions about the crocodile population.

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Exploring Data In Turtle Population Dynamics

Exploring data in turtle population dynamics

The number of eggs a female turtle lays in her lifetime influences the health of that species population. In this lesson we look at modelling data related to the number of eggs a female turtle lays in her lifetime, using real scientific data. Explore ways to model, interpret, represent and present data, creating an infographic to raise awareness about turtle conservation.

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Other suggested lessons

Automated Soil Moisture Sensor

Automated soil moisture sensor

The soil moisture sensor project integrates science understandings and computational thinking to solve a problem about sustainable watering practices. This lesson was devised by Trudy Ward, Clarendon Vale Primary School, Tasmania.

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Beeswax Wrap Project 2

Beeswax wrap project

This project is an example of a challenge-based learning task that has the aim of reducing schoolyard and community waste. It is based on the results of inquiry questions about students' own lives in relation to community and schoolyard plastic wrapping waste. The project creates opportunities for students to design, create, market and sell a plastic wrap alternative, and to work with a local business or community group that supplies some materials. This lesson was devised by Trudy Ward, Clarendon Vale Primary School, Tasmania.

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Earth Energy Solutions

Earth energy solutions

Design, make and market a working prototype of an installation to be used in our school garden which uses renewable energy.

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Smart Greenhouse

Smart greenhouse

In different engineering teams, each team is addressing the problem from a particular perspective. Then, as a whole group they come up with the ‘perfect greenhouse’ by putting all the ideas together.

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Animal Adaptations

Animal adaptations

In this lesson sequence students explore aspects of animal adaptation prior to applying their knowledge to constructing their own digital creature using littleBits electronic sets.

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Childs hand holding wires

Learning environments

This sequence of lessons explores how conditions in the environment can impact on learning. Through investigating the environmental influences on our classroom, and learning environments such as light, noise and temperature, students collect data and identify the optimal learning environment.

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Home Energy Use

Home energy use

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and sustainable energy use and are two of the major issues facing the world today. This project explores energy use in homes, and compares individual energy use with the class average and calculate and graph CO2 emissions.

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User Interface Design Controllers For All

User Interface Design: controllers for all

In this lesson, students design and implement a new user-interface that allows a user to interact with a digital program. This lesson idea was created by Rebecca Vivian.

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Exploring Data Tracking Turtle Movements

Exploring data tracking turtle movements

By gathering data on marine turtles, scientists have evidence that helps them work out where turtles migrate and the journeys they take. Scientists can then help to reduce the threats to the turtles’ survival. In this lesson we look at satellite tracking using real scientific data. Explore ways to model, interpret, represent and present data.

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Game Design

Game design

This sequence of lessons integrates game design using scratch and a Makey Makey programming board.

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Eco Calculator

Eco-calculator

Students make a prototype of an eco-calculator to demonstrate human impact on the environment and suggest changes in behaviour.

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Minecraft Sustainable House

Minecraft Sustainable House

Students plan and build a sustainable house in Minecraft.

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Water Tank Calculator

Water Tank Calculator

This activity engages students in the calculation of roof runoff on a school building to determine a suitably sized water tank.

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Bionic Hand

Bionic Hand

Students build a bionic hand from everyday materials. In creating the model they deepen their understanding of biomechanics and consider the application of bionic prosthetics.

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Frog Habitats And Adaptation

Frog Habitats and Adaptation

Students explore habitats and investigate the adaptations different frog species need to survive in that habitat. They use the FrogID app to identify local frogs and design their own frog pond to meet the needs of local species. This project led by a female scientist: Dr Jodi Rowley.

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Engineering Materials For A Greener Planet

Engineering Materials for a Greener Planet

This set of STEM activities for primary and secondary students explores how engineers can solve significant environmental problems

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Biomimicry Lessons From Nature

Biomimicry - Lessons from Nature

This unit of work introduces students to biomimicry. They learn how to look at nature for inspiration to solve engineering and design problems. Students learn about linear and closed loop systems and design a lamp using principles of biomimicry.

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Humpback Whales What The Data Reveals

Deep blue: innovation for the future of our oceans

Select student activities related to the future of oceans that link to the Australian Curriculum for science, technologies, mathematics, and the arts.

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