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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The Earth's Seasons Teaching Slides
Use this fact-packed digital teaching resource to show your students the names and characteristics of Earth’s four seasons.
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National Science Week Classroom Display
Show off your students amazing invention ideas with a fun Invention-themed Science Week classroom display!
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Coding with Robots - Pirate Coding Robot Mat
Implement coding for kids with a printable pirate coding robot map activity.
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Plant Life Cycle Sorting Activity
Help your students identify the stages in a plant’s life cycle with a sorting activity..
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Plant Journal Observation Worksheets
Observe and record information about plants with a printable plant journal worksheet.
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Water Cycle Interactive Activity Cards
Recognise different aspects of the water cycle and show your understanding with this water cycle interactive activity.
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Water Cycle Mini Activity Workbook
Explore the different elements of the water cycle with this activity mini book.
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Earth's Rotation – Flipbook
Model and explain how Earth’s rotation causes the sun to move across the sky with this interactive flipbook.
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Water Cycle Bingo
Learn water cycle vocabulary with this fun game of Bingo!
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Parts of a Plant - Observation Flipbook
Draw and write to record observations of the parts of a plant with a printable plant flipbook.
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Water Cycle Worksheet Pack
Discover everything there is to know and learn about the water cycle with this collection of worksheets suitable for primary school students.
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Phases of the Moon – Journal Project
Observe, describe and record patterns of the lunar cycle with this moon-tracking project.
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Forms of Energy – Year 4 Science Experiments for Kids
Investigate mechanical, electrical, light, thermal and sound energy with this set of science activities for kids.
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Phases of the Moon Worksheet for Year 2
Challenge year 2 students to label the phases of the moon as they appear in the southern hemisphere with this printable science worksheet.
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Oil Spill Science Experiment for Water Pollution
Investigate a man-made natural disaster and discover the effects of oil spills on wildlife with an oil spill science experiment.
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Snapshots of the Moon – Moon Tracking Booklet
Obverse the moon over the course of the month and chart observations with this moon phases mini-book.
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Moon Phases Mini-Book
Read, learn and complete comprehension exercises while studying the 8 moon phases.
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How to Make a Sundial - Template
Print this sundial template, and follow the instructions to make a sundial with your students when exploring concepts of time.
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Oreo® Moon Phases Worksheet
Explore moon phases with Oreos® in this tasty worksheet.
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Moon Phases – Teaching Presentation
Learn about the different phases of the moon and how its appearance changes over time with this teaching presentation.
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Life Cycles PowerPoint
Teach your students about life cycles of plants and animals with this 19-slide teaching presentation.
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Patterns in Science - Grouping & Categorising Cards
A set of 89 task cards to help students learn about patterns in nature.
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Science Photo Booth Props
Set up a science photo booth in your classroom with a pack of printable science photo booth props.
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30 Fluttering Butterfly Facts for Kids to Get Students Excited in Science Class
These ready-to-use butterfly facts are perfect for getting a jump start on your next biology lesson or learn about Australian butterflies! Butterflies are great subjects for a variety of classroom lessons including pollination, healthy ecosystems and metamorphosis.
- National Science Week 2025 Worksheets
- National Science Week 2025 Projects
- National Science Week 2025 for Foundation Year
- National Science Week 2025 for Year 1
- National Science Week 2025 for Year 2
- National Science Week 2025 for Year 3
- National Science Week 2025 for Year 4
- National Science Week 2025 for Year 5
- National Science Week 2025 for Year 6