CURRICULUM RESOURCES
Foundation | Biological sciences | Staying alive | NEW – fully aligned to the Australian Curriculum
All animals, including humans, use their sensory organs to gather information about their environment. The sharp eye, the cocked ear, or the careful sniffing of air can warn animals of dangers that might threaten their survival. Humans use senses to gather information not only critical for our immediate safety, but also for planning to meet our basic needs for things such as food, water and shelter.
The Staying alive unit is an ideal way to link science with literacy in the classroom. It provides opportunities for students to investigate needs for survival of animals, including humans, and how our senses help us stay alive. Students' understanding of basic needs and their importance in our lives will be developed through hands-on activities. Through investigations, students will explore the needs of a classroom pet and compare them to their own needs.
It is recommended that Staying Alive be taught in the first term.
Unit at a glance (PDF)
Equipment lists (PDF)
Alignment with the Australian Curriculum: Science (PDF)
Alignment with the Australian Curriculum: English and Maths (PDF)
Indigenous Perspectives framework (PDF)
Indigenous Perspectives Teaching and learning guide
Factual and narrative texts
Useful websites
Animal ethics guidelines
Display pictures of a busy road (PDF)
Factual texts:
Pets
Gogerly, Liz (Hodder Children's Books, 2004, 24pp)
ISBN: 0 75024 5530
The complete book of pets and pet care
Edwards, Alan, Larkin, Peter and others (Anness Publishing, 2006, 512pp)
ISBN: 0 75481 6613
Super senses series: Tasting; Seeing; Smelling; Touching; Hearing; Special animal senses
Mackill, Mary (Raintree, 2006, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 40347 3862 (Tasting), 1 40347 3838 (Seeing), 1 40347 3773 (Smelling), 1 40347 3870 (Touching), 1 40347 3757 (Hearing), 1 40620 0256 (Special animal senses)
What can I? series: What can I smell?; What can I feel?; What can I hear?; What can I see?; What can I taste?
Barraclough, Sue (Raintree, 2005, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 41092 1646 (What can I smell?), 1 41092 162X (What can I feel?), 1 41092 1638 (What can I hear?), 1 41092 1654 (What can I see?), 1 41092 1662 (What can I taste?)
What living things need series: Air; Food; Homes; Water
Parker, Vic (Raintree, 2006, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 40347 8880 (Air), 1 40347 8902 (Food), 1 40347 8910 (Homes), 1 40347 8899 (Water)
Narrative texts:
The perfect pet
Coplans, Peta (Andersen Press, 2000, 32pp)
ISBN: 0 86264 8734 (hardcover)
ISBN: 0 86264 1020 (soft cover)
The perfect pet
Chataway, Carol (Kids Can Press, 2002, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 55337 178X
I love guinea-pigs
King-Smith, Dick (Candlewick Press, 2001, 32pp)
ISBN: 0 76361 4351
I will not ever never eat a tomato
Child, Lauren (Orchard, 2007, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 84616 8864
Fish don't play ball
McCann, Emma (Meadowside Children's Books, 2008, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 90451 1856
Sebastian lives in a hat
Catterwell, Thelma and Argent, Kerry (Scholastic Australia, 1991, 17pp)
ISBN: 1 86291 0987
Neuroscience for kids – the senses
A collection of activities and experiments based on the five senses.
Responsible pet ownership
Information about how to care for pets, including a kids’ activity section.
Guide Dogs Australia
Contains links to the Guide Dogs websites in each state. These pages include information about vision problems and the role of guide dogs in the community.
Creature Features
Information about all sorts of animals, including pet fact sheets, activities and online games.
Guidelines for the care and use of animals in Tasmanian schools
Only applies to vertebrates (and possibly cephalopods such as octopi).
Queensland government animal ethics guidelines
Includes a section titled 'Species-Specific Information' with a lot of useful information on specific animals, such as cats, dogs, rats, and guinea pigs.
Victorian Government schools reference guide
The reference to the use of animals in schools will be updated over the coming months.
Animals in schools: Animal welfare guidelines for teachers
Applicable for New South Wales.
Government of South Australia's animal ethics guidelines
Northern Territory government animal welfare home
Includes a link to the Animal Welfare Act.