National Science Week 2025 Teaching Resources
Get ready for National Science Week 2025 with science worksheets, printable activities and more fun and engaging science ideas for the primary school classroom.
This collection of curriculum-aligned teaching resources comes from the teacher team at Teach Starter and has been reviewed by our expert teachers to ensure each activity, worksheet, and game is ready for your classroom.
If you are looking for some fun science week activities to go with the 2025 National Science Week theme or just a general (fun) science activity, read on for ideas from the teachers of Teach Starter!
What Is National Science Week?
National Science Week is celebrated every year in Australia all across the nation. Organised by the Australian government's Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, it typically inspires more than 1000 events across the nation, including many in primary schools. This is a perfect week to come together as a school community and celebrate all things science and technology!
The week-long event in August is a good time for your students to learn about the latest scientific research and discoveries and to engage with scientists and other experts in the classroom or on an excursion. Focus on the year's theme, or celebrate your own way with curriculum-aligned science lessons that cover the unit you're already working through.
With the activities and lessons teachers like you do in the primary classroom, National Science Week can inspire the next generation of scientists and promote the understanding and importance of science in shaping our future. Talk about teachers having an impact!
When Is National Science Week 2025?
Since it began in 1997, this science-themed event has occurred every August. In 2025, the National Science Week dates are from 9 to 17 August.
That means students will have an entire week to join in on one of the largest science events in the country!
What Is the National Science Week Theme for 2025?
The theme for this event changes every year, opening up new opportunities to get students excited and inspire your classroom activities.
In 2025, the theme will be 'Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature's hidden language.'
This theme encourages students and teachers across Australia to explore the mysteries of the Universe by learning about key areas of nature, like maths and quantum science.
Tied to the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Australia, it connects basic science education with advanced topics. 'Decoding the Universe' will help teachers inspire students by showing how maths and quantum science are behind both the natural world and everyday technologies, from photosynthesis to GPS.
Past Science Week Themes to Inspire Your Celebrations
Some of the past themes for National Science Week have also had an eye on the future of science and may give you ideas for your week of classroom activities! Here are just a few of the past themes from more than 25 years of celebrating science:
- Innovation: Powering Different Industries
- Glass: More Than Meets the Eye
- Food: Different by Design
- Deep Blue: Innovations for the Future of Our Oceans
- Destination Moon: More Missions, More Science
- Game Changers and Change Makers
- Future Earth
- Drones, Droids and Robots
- Making Waves: The Science of Light
- Food for our Future: Science Feeding the World
- A Century of Australian Science
- Science Around the World
- The Chemistry of Life
- Celebrating Our Solar System
National Science Week 2025 Activities
Wondering what you can do in the classroom to celebrate National Science Week? Here are some ideas:
- Why not have students come to school for the day dressed up as their favourite scientist, and set up a science-themed photo booth in the classroom?
- Discover patterns in nature using maths by taking your students outside and identify natural patterns such as spirals in leaves or symmetry in flowers. Then, discuss how maths can describe these patterns.
- Introduce the concept of light and colour in quantum science by using prisms or old CD discos to demonstrate how white light splits into a spectrum of colours. Discuss how light behaves in waves and how this is related to quantum science.
- Understand the scale and relationships of the solar system by using materials to create a model of the solar system, arranging planets based on their distance from the Sun. Then discuss how maths and science help us understand planetary motion.
- Introduce students to basic coding concepts to create simple projects such as building a program that simulates the movement of planets or starts. This introduces the idea of using algorithms and coding to understand complex systems like the universe.
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Drowning in Plastic – Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Teach your students facts about ocean pollution with this comprehensive article with accompanying comprehension activities.
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What Is Climate Change? Comprehension Worksheet
Teach your students about the perils of climate change with this comprehensive article with accompanying comprehension questions.
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Species Survival! Science Word Search
Explore vocabulary related to the National Science Week 2024 theme of “Species Survival – More Than Sustainability” with a differentiated word search.
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Roll to Create an Animal - Adaptations Game
Roll to create an animal with cool adaptations using a fun dice game and report template.
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Earth Watch: Protecting Native Plants and Animals – Comprehension Worksheet
Build comprehension skills and learn about human impact on ecosystems with a reading passage and worksheets.
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Famous Scientists Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Introduce your students to the groundbreaking work of Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk with a comparative reading passage and comprehension questions.
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Australian Endangered Species Snapshots – Comprehension Worksheet
Explore some Australian endangered species with your students using this set of reading passages with comprehension questions.
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Australian Conservationists: The Irwins – Comprehension Worksheet
Learn about the Irwin family and their conservation work with this 2-page reading passage and accompanying comprehension questions.
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Human Innovation and Environmental Conservation Teaching Slides
Teach your students how human innovation is helping conserve the environment with this teaching presentation perfect for National Science Week 20204.
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Animals and Their Habitats - Cut and Paste Worksheets
Match the animals and their habitats with a pack of printable cut-and-paste worksheets.
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Amazon Rainforest Facts - Reading Passage
Read and learn about conservation with a reading passage and comprehension worksheet on the Amazon Rainforest.
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Sustainability Activity - Caring for the Environment
Promote sustainable living with a sustainability sorting activity.
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Caring For Country and Place in Sustainable Ways PowerPoint
Explore how Indigenous peoples care for Country and Place in sustainable ways with a teaching presentation.
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Water Overuse – Infographic Poster and Worksheet
Explore the overuse of water and its effects on the world’s population with this eye-opening infographic poster and accompanying comprehension worksheet.
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Overfishing – Infographic Poster and Worksheet
Explore overfishing and its effects on marine environments with this eye-opening infographic poster and accompanying comprehension worksheet.
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Environmental Impact Science Experiments
Use these simple science experiments to teach your students about environmental issues such as oil and water pollution, soil quality and climate change.
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Endangered Animals Classification Poster
Explore endangered animal classifications with this informative classroom poster.
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Ecological Footprint Draw and Write
Help your students be more eco-conscious by having them complete a carbon footprint worksheet.
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Natural Resources Word Search
Review the different natural resources with a word search.
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Plant Growth in Soils – Science Experiment
Explore how plants grow in different types of soil with this science experiment perfect for primary school science lessons.
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Deforestation – Infographic Poster and Worksheet
Read and learn about deforestation with an engaging infographic and comprehension worksheet.
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Biodiversity in a Habitat – Inquiry-Based Project
Use this biodiversity project to teach your students about the importance of species survival to life on Earth.
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Species Survival! Science Colouring Pages
Explore the National Science Week 2024 theme with a set of three inspirational quotes colouring pages.
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Animal Group Fact File Worksheets
Research and write about the characteristics of different animal groups with printable Animal Group Fact File Worksheets.