National Science Week 2026

Explore how seeds grow, spread and survive – and how knowledge does too. Spanning F–Y10, these activities connect scientific inquiry with First Nations understanding of plants, seasons and land management. 

Follow the story of Dr Kirsten Banks, Wiradjuri astronomer and science communicator, as students explore First Nations astronomy knowledges. These activities for F–Y10 invite creative, reflective and discussion-based learning. 

Begin to learn about First Nations Peoples’ knowledges of astronomy – stars, constellations and phases of the moon. Investigate Dreaming stories relating to the stars and learn local First Nations words while engaging creatively in hands-on activities and opportunities for play. 

Explore how First Nations Peoples transform natural materials into objects and investigate physical change through hands-on experimentation. Students observe, photograph and deepen their understanding of Country and the materials found within it. 

Compare the properties of soils, rocks and minerals and discover how First Nations Peoples have used and understood them for thousands of years. Students build scientific vocabulary alongside a deeper appreciation of Indigenous knowledge and material culture. 

Explore the Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through its iconic flora, fauna and First Nations cultures. Students investigate the cassowary as a keystone species, examine conservation efforts, and develop respect for the Peoples who have long cared for this Country. 

Discover how diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples recognise and use cycles on Earth and in space. Through hands-on activities, students explore First Nations science in daily life and reflect on why this knowledge matters. 

Explore First Nations cultural accounts of geological events preserved across millennia, then compare these histories to scientific evidence. Students research Australian volcanoes and investigate the connections between creation stories and geology. 

Explore how Western science has come to corroborate First Nations Peoples' deep presence on this continent. Students investigate terra nullius, ancient sites like Budj Bim and Madjedbebe, and the relationship between Indigenous knowledge and contemporary scientific dating methods. 

Examine how First Nations and Western science can work together to address environmental challenges. Students explore cultural bias, the meaning of Country, and different ways of knowing – then apply both knowledge systems to evaluate a real global issue.