The Bureau of Meteorology has many brochures which are useful for school projects. They may be downloaded directly from the internet or ordered as printed copies. Go to the Alphabetic List of Topics or Publications for a list of available materials and details on how to obtain them.
Scientists in Schools
Staff of the Bureau of Meteorology participate in the Scientists in Schools program on a voluntary basis.
Email: scientistsinschools@csiro.au
SciCommunity, a list of science outreach activities around Australia
Look for science outreach events around Australia via the SciCommunity website. Browse for activities by date, location or category, and view them as a list or on a map of Australia. Register and connect via newsletter, Twitter, and/or the website.
Visits to other science organisations
NSW
The Sydney Observatory, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Watson Road
Open for booked, 90-minute school visits guided by a meteorology educator. The programs are suitable for Stage 1, 3 and 4 children studying the weather.
tel: (02) 9921 3485, email: observatory@phm.gov.au
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo
Visits combine observation and interaction to enhance students knowledge and understanding, while developing new learning skills and interests across a wide range of study areas.
tel: (02) 9217 0222, email: edserv@phm.gov.au
Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, Fairy Meadow
The Wollongong facility has more than 100 interactive exhibits on themes such as The Machine and Dinosaurs, Fossils and Coal, a planetarium, an observatory with a powerful telescope, and science shows in the Illawarra Coal Science Theatre.
tel: (02) 4286 5000, email: science_centre@uow.edu.au
Newcastle Museum, Honeysuckle Way
There will be a new home for the museum this year (2011), and construction is under way.
tel: (02) 4974 1400, email: nrmuseum@ncc.nsw.gov.au
VIC
CSIRO Education, Melbourne, Graham Road, Highett
Hosts science shows and takes shows to schools. It runs weather shows for primary school students.
tel: (03) 9252 6387, email: education.vic@csiro.au
Monash Science Centre, Melbourne, building 74 via Normanby Road, Monash University, Clayton
The programs can take place at the centre or in classrooms. There is a weather program for early primary students and programs that touch on weather-related phenomena for mid and upper primary students.
tel: (03) 9905 1370, email: science-centre@monash.edu
Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Come and see the real thing. Explore life in Victoria, from the natural environment to culture and history.
tel: 13 11 02 (in Victoria), 1300 130 152 (in Australia), +61 3 8341 7777 (international)
Scienceworks and Melbourne Planetarium, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood
The centre caters for excursions by primary and secondary students. Exhibits touch on weather-related themes, such as the "Lightning Room" and "Earth's Fury".
13 11 02 (in Victoria), (03) 9392 4800 or (03) 9392 4819 (in Australia), and +61 3 9392 4800 (international)
Immigration Museum, Melbourne, Old Customs House, 400 Flinders Street
Explore the moving stories of people from all over the world who have migrated to Australia.
tel: 13 11 02 (in Victoria), (03) 9927 2700 or (03) 9927 2754 (in Australia), +61 3 9927 2700 (international)
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton
World Heritage Site. The Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens is one of the world's oldest remaining exhibition pavilions.
tel: (03) 9270 5004 or (03) 9270 5006 or 13 11 02 (in Victoria)
Victorian Space Science Education Centre, Strathmore Secondary College, 400 Pascoe Vale Road.
VSSEC uses the context of space to engage teachers and students in its high-quality science programs.
tel: (03) 9379 3456, email: information@vssec.vic.edu.au
Ecolinc Science and Technology Innovations Centre, Bacchus Marsh, 17-23 Labilliere Street,
Ecolinc provides innovative curriculum programs for years P-12 students which focus on sustainable environmental development practices.
tel: (03) 5367 0171, email: ecolinc@edumail.vic.gov.au
Gene Technology Access Centre, Melbourne, University High School, 1H Royal Parade, Parkville
The centre delivers world-class education programs in cell and molecular biology. The programs encourage innovative learning through collaboration.
tel: (03) 9340 3600, email: gtac@gtac.edu.au
Discovery Science and Technology Centre, Bendigo, 7 Railway Place
The Discovery centre aims to inspire scientific curiosity by promoting the wonders of science and technology, being interactive, informative and entertaining, and providing opportunities for the development of scientific literacy and capability.
tel: (03) 9340 3600, email: fun@discovery.asn.au
QLD
Sciencentre, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane, cnr Grey and Melbourne Sts, South Bank
The Sciencentre offers hours of interactive, science-based fun for kids of all ages (including big kids!). Everyone is a participant. About 100 interractive exhibits are divided into four galleries: Body Zone, Action Stations, Megawatt and Think Science.
tel: (07) 3840 7555, email: inquirycentre@qm.qld.gov.au, email via Sciencentre contact form
SA
RiAus (including the Science Exchange), Adelaide, 55 Exchange Place
The Royal Institution of Australia brings science to people and people to science.
tel: (08) 7120 8600, email: science@riaus.org.au
ACT
Questacon, Canberra, cnr King Edward Terrace and Mall Road West, Parkes
Questacon strives to promote greater understanding and awareness of science and technology within the community. It is committed to making that experience fun, interactive, and relevant. The centre has more than 200 staff and about 150 volunteers. Each year it has about 400,000 visitors, while another 700,000 see exhibitions in other centres around Australia and overseas. It has an extensive outreach program that visits about 300,000 people across the country. Questacon is part of the Federal Government's Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
tel: (02) 6270 2800, email: info@questacon.edu.au
Geoscience Australia, Canberra, cnr Jerrabomberra Av and Hindmarsh Drive, Symonston
Geoscience Australia's education centre offers curriculum-linked, hands-on activities that keep a range of school-aged audiences captivated, focused and looking for more. The centre is a free school excursion destination and highlights geoscience as an interesting and relevant part of our lives.
tel: (02) 6249 9673, email: education@ga.gov.au
WA
Scitech, West Perth, Sutherland Street
Scitech is a fun, educational and engaging science centre in the heart of Perth. The centre is Western Australia's leading science education institution and offers interactive experiences for the whole family. Funding for the not-for-profit organisation comes mostly from government grants, corporate partnerships, and admission and membership fees.
tel: (08) 9215 0700, email via Scitech contact form
Weather Kit
The Weather Kit, containing more than 30 weather-measuring instruments, was developed by the Victorian education department and the Bureau of Meteorology in 1999-2000. The kit was produced as part of the department's Science in Schools program and included instructions on how to use the instruments and suggestions for class activities. The education department no longer supports the program, but some individuals within the Victorian education sector and some bureau offices lend a limited number of kits to schools.
If you are interested in borrowing the kit, please contact the people listed below in your state. If the contact information is out of date, please contact the bureau's National Public Affairs Officer, Mark Jenkin, by email or phone (03 9669 4552). If you do borrow a kit, it is generally your or the school's responsibility to pay for equipment breakages. Written resources accompany the equipment in the kit.
Victoria
- Grampians region (Central Highlands / Wimmera)
-
One kit is available for loan.
Contact Bruce Schmidt,
109 Armstrong Street North, BALLARAT VIC 3350
e-mail: schmidt.bruce.e@edumail.vic.gov.au
tel: (03) 5337 8433, mob: 0438 420 025 - North East Victoria Region
-
One kit is available for loan.
Contact Brendan O'Brien,
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development,
Regional Office, 50 Arundel Street, BENALLA VIC 3671
e-mail: obrien.brendan.p@edumail.vic.gov.au
tel: 0498 591 046
Northern Territory
Two kits are available for loan. Contact the Climate Information Officer,
Bureau of Meteorology, 13 Scaturchio Street, CASUARINA NT 0810
e-mail: climate.nt@bom.gov.au, tel: (08) 8920 3815
Queensland
One weather kit is available for loan.
Contact Pradeep Singh, Media and Community Relations Officer
Bureau of Meteorology, Level 21, 69 Ann Street, BRISBANE QLD 4000
e-mail: p.singh@bom.gov.au tel: (07) 3239 8751
Western Australia
One weather kit is available for loan. Contact Mandy Sergeant,
Governor Stirling Senior High School, 25 Third Av, WOODBRIDGE WA 6056
email: Mandy.Sergeant@education.wa.edu.au, tel: (08) 6274 0300
ACT, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania
Not available.
Electronic Weather Monitoring
Electronic weather stations are available for purchase through various outlets. A multi-sensor station that records temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall and atmospheric pressure, for instance, may cost upwards of $500. Some units come with software that connects the station to a personal computer, so data can be viewed in real time and stored for later analysis. Some schools display readings from their weather station on their intranet and website. Others analyse the data to work out monthly averages and totals, and compare readings from the station with those taken by hand using thermometers, rain gauges and other low-cost equipment. Victorian student Elliot Levin of Caulfield has one such station.Links
- Project Atmosphere Australia On-line Contact Sel Kerans, skerans@rocketmail.com
- References to weather related texts.
- External web sites that relate specifically to learning about meteorology.
- Stormwatchers game
- Federation and Meteorology
Curriculum materials: Subject-specific experiments and activities
This is a list of subject-specific experiments and activities designed for students and teachers. They include interactive animated models, a cloud quiz, teacher lesson plans and student worksheets. Some of the web pages below use javascript computer language. Go to the Help for Teachers page for more detail.Shortcuts: Science | Health and Physical Education | Mathematics | SOSE (Geography)
SCIENCE
| Title | Year Level |
Description and Learning Outcomes | Teacher lesson plan | Student worksheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A PET Cloud | 3-4 | Students make their own cloud in a bottle using a plastic PET bottle, water and smoke. Learning outcome: Describe how weather influences daily life. |
HTML | PDF | HTML | PDF |
| Bottled Pressure | 3-4 | An activity that graphically shows the force of the air around us. A plastic bottle is crushed due to the difference in air pressure. Learning outcome: Identify the action of forces in every day situations. |
HTML | PDF | HTML | PDF |
| Bottled Up Tornadoes | 5-6 | An experiment on making your own tornado in a bottle. Learning outcomes: Relate the occurrence of natural events to atmospheric changes and movements of the earth's crust and mantle. |
HTML | PDF | HTML | PDF |
| Clouds that warm, clouds that cool | 3-4 | An investigation into the effect clouds have on the temperature at the earth's surface. Learning outcomes: Describe weather conditions over a period. |
HTML | PDF | HTML | PDF |
| Colours of the sky | 3-4 | An investigation into why the sky has the colours it has at different times of the day and what causes it. Learning outcomes: Identify a range of visual effects associated with light reflecting from mirrors and passing through different materials. |
HTML | PDF | HTML | PDF |
Dro and the Weather Map |
2-3 | 'Dro' the raindrop learns how to read a typical weather map found in the newspaper. Presented in a storybook method containing 11 pages. Learning outcomes: Identify simple patterns in observations arising from explorations of readily observable phenomena. Includes many small animations. |
HTML | PDF | Student storybook with exercise. |
| Eggsperiment | 3-4 | A teacher demonstration that uses an egg to investigate changes in air pressure. Learning outcome: Identify the action of forces in every day situations. |
HTML | PDF | HTML | PDF |
| El Niño and Rainfall | 7-8 |
An activity based on the effect of El Niño on rainfall. Includes the option of downloading and using an interactive animation that highlights the process of El Niño. Some parts require the use of javascript. Learning outcomes: Relate the occurrence of natural events to atmospheric changes and movements of the earth's crust and mantle. Includes animation (350KB). | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Getting Warmer | 5-6 |
An activity that examines how different materials absorb energy from the sun. Learning outcome: Relate properties of common substances to their suitability for particular use. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| High and Low Pressure Systems | 3-4 |
An investigation into the characteristics of high and low pressure systems. Learning outcome: Record ways we monitor and use information about changes to the earth. Includes several animations (total size 200KB). | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Homemade Dew and Frost | 3-4 |
An activity that demonstrates that air contains water and shows how to make the water visible. Learning outcome: Describe weather conditions over a period. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Measuring Pressure | 5-6 |
An experiment on measuring air pressure. Making your own barometer. Learning outcomes: Relate the occurrence of natural events to atmospheric changes and movements of the Earth's crust and mantle. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Measuring Wind Speed | 3-4 |
An activity that demonstrates that measuring wind speed can be done with minimal equipment and with surprising accuracy. A protractor, ping-pong ball and a piece of string are used to make a simple wind measuring instrument. Learning outcomes: Describe how weather influences daily life and describe weather conditions over a period of time. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Meteorology - What is it? | 5-8 |
A class discussion defining meteorology and its importance. Includes a creative writing exercise asking students to write an imaginary trip as a weather balloon. Learning outcomes: Relate the occurrence of natural events to atmospheric changes and movements of the earth's crust and mantle. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Modelling Tropical Cyclones | 5-6 |
An activity that investigates the formation and structure of tropical cyclones. Students make a plasticine model of a cyclone. Learning outcomes: Relate the occurrence of natural events to atmospheric changes and movements of the earth's crust and mantle. Includes interactive animation (167KB). | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Mr.McCloud's Cloud Quiz | 5-8 |
This is an animated interactive quiz that covers cloud classification. Uses javascript. Learning outcome: Classify and identify cloud types. Includes interactive quiz (100KB) | Mr McCloud's Cloud Quiz | |
| Pushy Air | 3-6 |
An experiment that investigates air and its properties. It demonstrates that air is all around us pushing on everything. Learning outcome: Identify the action of forces in every day situations. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| The Ups and Downs of Ozone | 7-10 |
An experiment looking at how the ozone layer has changed over the decades and during a year. Includes an interactive animation that models the destruction of ozone by CFCs. Some parts require the use of javascript. Learning outcome: Relate the safe use and disposal of common substances to their physical and chemical properties. Includes animation (120KB). | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Weather | 2-3 | An activity that investigates the weather and how it affects us. Learning outcome: Identify simple patterns in observations arising from explorations of readily observable phenomena. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| Wet Air | 5-6 | An activity that investigates the humidity in the classroom and the school ground. Learning outcome: Describe weather conditions over a period of time. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
HEALTH and PHYSICAL EDUCATION
|
||||
Title |
Year Level |
Description and Learning Outcomes |
Links |
PDF downloads |
| The Ups and Downs of Ozone | 5-8 |
An experiment looking at how the ozone layer has changed over the decades and during a year. Includes an interactive animation that models the destruction of ozone by CFCs. Some parts require the use of javascript. Learning outcome: Relate the safe use and disposal of common substances to their physical and chemical properties. Includes animation (120KB). | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
MATHEMATICS
|
||||
Title |
Year Level |
Description and Learning Outcomes |
Links |
PDF downloads |
| What's the Chance of Rain? | 5-6 |
Activities in probability, chance and data. Includes animated interactive pie charts with random number generator. Some parts require the use of javascript. Learning outcomes: Examine the outcomes from simple chance experiments and data on familiar events to order outcomes and events from least to most likely; extract and interpret numerical information contained in tables, data displays and databases; interpret, discuss and compare data displays, including how well they communicate information. Includes animation (300KB). | • Teacher lesson plan 1 • Student work-sheet 1 |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| What's the Chance of Rain? | 5-6 |
Activities in probability, chance and data. Includes animated interactive pie charts with random number generator. Some parts require the use of javascript. Learning outcomes: Use and interpret numerical statements which quantify chance; use language of chance in everyday situations; design and prepare surveys and experiments to answer questions or test conjectures and predictions. Includes animation (300KB). | • Teacher lesson plan 2 • Student work-sheet 2 |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
| What's the Chance of Rain? | 7-8 |
Activities in probability, chance and data. Includes animated interactive pie charts with random number generator. Some parts require the use of javascript. Learning outcomes: Analyse experiments to determine the theoretical probability of events; carry out experiments involving chance to estimate the probability of events and to simulate situations; interpret and evaluate information contained in tables, visual displays and databases and report on methods of data collection; draw inferences from collected or published data. Includes animation (300KB). | • Teacher lesson plan 3 • Student work-sheet 3 |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |
SOSE (Geography)
|
||||
Title |
Year Level |
Description and Learning Outcomes |
Links |
PDF downloads |
| Climate Change | 9-10 |
An investigation into some of the natural processes and human activities which cause climate change. Learning outcome: Explain the processes and interactions between people and major natural systems. | • Teacher lesson plan • Student work-sheet |
• Lesson plan • Work-sheet |