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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Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable
Make outdoor play a learning opportunity with exciting nature treasure hunts..
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Phases of the Moon – Comprehension Worksheet
Analyse different moon phases and how their visual appearances change over time with this reading comprehension worksheet.
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Life Cycles – Teaching Presentation
Teach your students about life cycles of plants and animals with this 19-slide teaching presentation.
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Outdoor STEM Activities Resource Pack
Take your STEM lessons outside with our printable Outdoor STEM Activities Resource Pack.
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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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Scientists and What They Do Worksheet Pack
Help your students learn what a scientist is and what scientists do with a set of printable science worksheets for early learners.
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Moon Phases Diagram
Learn the phases of the moon in the southern hemisphere with this set of two posters.
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Tornado in a Jar Experiment
Create a Tornado in a Jar with an interactive science experiment slide deck and Tornado in a Jar Experiment Worksheet.
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Funky Scientist Craft Template
Create a funky scientist to kick off your study of inventors and innovations for National Science Week!
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Four Seasons Tree Activity
Create a visual representation of the 4 seasons with a printable tree template.
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Making Butter in a Jar – States of Matter Lab Activity
Have fun making butter in a jar in this exciting Changing States of Matter Lab Activity.
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Months and Seasons Worksheet - Matching Activity
Order the months of the year and match them with their corresponding seasons with a cut-and-paste activity.
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Severe Weather STEM - Build a Storm Shelter Project
Design a storm shelter to protect against wind and rain with a hands-on Weather Stem Challenge.
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Growing Bean Plant Seeds — Greenhouse Template
Start growing bean plant seeds to observe plant life cycles with a printable greenhouse template and observation journal.
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Solar System Craft - Mobile of the Solar System
Use this printable solar system craft when learning about the planets and their position in relation to the Sun.
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Oreo® Moon Phases Worksheet
Explore moon phases with Oreos® in this tasty worksheet.
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Decoding the Universe - Science Week Colouring Pages
Explore the National Science Week 2025 Theme with a set of four ‘Decoding the Universe’ Science Week colouring pages.
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What Do Scientists Do? Teaching Slides
Discover what scientists do, the tools they use, and more with our 'What Do Scientists Do?' Teaching Presentation.
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Removing Heat – Ice Cream in a Bag Experiment
Make Ice Cream in a Bag and discover how removing heat causes matter to change states.
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Day and Night Mini-Book
Learn about the differences between night and day with this printable mini-book.
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Moon Phases – Poster Set
Learn about the lunar cycle with this this set of posters showing the different phases of the moon.
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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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What Causes the Seasons? Explanation Text Writing Task
Use this scaffolded writing task to have students write about how seasons change.
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Plant Growth Chart Worksheet
Record the growth and changes in a plant over time with one of our differentiated plant growth charts.
- National Science Week 2025 Worksheets
- National Science Week 2025 Projects
- National Science Week 2025 for Preschool/Kindergarten
- 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