Resources
Resources for schools & groups, kids & families and adults.
Includes activities, online learning programs, games, school resources, fact sheets and more. Some learning resources require the Adobe Flash Player which can be downloaded from www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer.
Blog
Read about interesting specimens, science curators’ research and new Australian Curriculum learning resources.
Online learning resource
Discover the beauty and uniqueness of the Great Barrier Reef and its creatures. Investigate how human activities and climate change are affecting the reef.
Teacher Resource Booklet (PDF, 2.4MB)
Online learning resource
Listen to stories of backyard wildlife. Engage in biodiversity assessments, insect collection, digital story making and observe wildlife close to home.
The resource includes the Backyard Explorer booklets for use by school and community groups.
Resource List
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Sustainable living water usage (744 KB) 
Student’s notes
A data table that shows how much water is used for general household activities. It gives usage as a rate in litres per minute or as a total volume for the activity. It also compares water usage with that of the past and outlines some of the daily activities and chores that were done in previous centuries. This worksheet with notes links to the Sustainable Living Practice resource.
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Sustainable Objects fact sheet (183 KB) Teacher notes, Student worksheets, Fact sheet
Descriptions of objects found in QM Loans Sustainable Living kit. It describes the use of washboards, candle holders, curling tongs, flat iron, orange squeezer, petrol iron, kerosene tins, rolling pins and other artefacts.
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Swimming crabsVideo
Dr Peter Davie talks about the adaptations of swimming crabs, in particular the Blue Swimmer and the Mud Crab. Adaptations of their claws and appendages are discussed.
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Take One Object (38 KB) Teacher’s notes
One interesting object can stimulate research in all sorts of directions, but where do you start? What questions do you ask? These pages give some examples of possible curriculum links from objects
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Thaumatrope (430 KB) Hands on Activities - instructions
Spin it fast. What do you see? This optical illusion tricks our mind into seeing something that is not there.
Have fun discovering the science in our world.
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Thaumatrope template (29 KB) Hands on Activities - template
Spin it fast. What do you see? This optical illusion tricks our mind into seeing something that is not there.
Have fun discovering the science in our world.
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The Courage of Ordinary Men (194 KB) Teacher Notes
Learning activities for before, during and after a visit to The Courage of Ordinary Men. This exhibition provides a unique and valuable opportunity for students to utilise three personal stories to investigate the themes associated with World War 1 and the Victoria Cross.
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The Dingo (234 KB) Fact sheet
The Dingo (Canus lupus dingo) is now considered to be a subspecies of the Wolf. Like wolves, but unlike domestic dogs, dingoes breed seasonally only once rather than twice a year.
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The Koala (149 KB) Fact sheet
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is one of the most familiar native Australian mammals. It is easily recognised by its soft grey and white fur, large hairy ears and black bulbous nose.
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The Line Up (345 KB) Activity Sheet
Draw a line to match the pictures of the suspects with the description given to police officers.
