Education resources and web links

Cultural Programs

Natural history programs

Other Programs

Internet resources

Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery

This gallery is a showcase for one of the best collections of Australian Aboriginal artefacts in the world. We ask most classes to book only one of its two floors, to allow equitable use of the spaces and to help make return visits more beneficial. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Resources for the ground floor gallery.

Focus on the traditional lifestyles and technologies used by Aboriginal people living in different environments all over Australia, including small exhibits of materials from Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Arrernte, Diyari, Arabana and Wangkangurru people.

A picture book
Early years - with an adult helper
Early years
Primary years
Primary years - activity card program
Middle years

Resources for the first floor gallery.

Focus on themes including Aboriginal Art and the Dreaming; Relatedness – Aboriginal communities and identity; Play. Also includes surveys of boomerangs, string and basketry. Regional focus displays include Kakadu, the Kimberleys, Western Cape York and the Tiwi Islands.

A picture book
Early years - with an adult helper
Early years
Primary years
Middle years

Resources for both floors. (Senior students)

Focus on research projects for Senior Years students studying Australian History, Aboriginal Studies, and Australian Studies.

Senior years - Collecting the collectors
Senior years - projects

Background information

Teacher background information
Aboriginal Perspectives across the curriculum

Museum web pages featuring Aboriginal Culture.
Additional information for teachers and students.
Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery
Norman Tindale
Ngurunderi; An Aboriginal Dreaming
The Big Canvas - Painting Cockatoo Creek
Ingarnendi

In the Footsteps of Sir Douglas Mawson

Douglas Mawson was a scientist, an explorer and an adventurer. Geology, biology and history are important in these programs. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

A special cross-curriculum science/history program is available, in which students can access the Mawson archives and see what information can be gleaned from primary sources as well as exploring the gallery.

Archive program

Early years
Teacher information
Early with adult helper
Student Activities - Easy version
Student Activities - Harder version

Primary years
Teacher information
Student Activities

Middle years
Teacher information
Student Activities Easy version
Student Activities Harder version
Explore the Mawson Archives - A special "behind the scenes." history/science program.

Gallery Multimedia
The Gallery Multimedia (R-12)

Museum web pages featuring Douglas Mawson
Additional information for teachers and students.
In the Footsteps of Sir Douglas Mawson

Skeletons

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

Bones and skeletons are part of many of our exhibitions. These activity booklets take students to many parts of the building to view bones, but the program also depends on specimens that the Education Officers can provide in lessons. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Skeletons Early Years
Skeletons Primary Years

Marine Life Trail

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

These booklets give teacher information and student activities that focus on the oceans. The trail includes fish, whales, Aboriginal artefacts, Melanesian artefacts and birds. Dividing classes into groups to access different parts of the museum simultaneously is preferred. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Early years
Pre visit information
Teacher and student Information
Activity booklet

Primary years
Pre visit information
Teacher and student Information
Activity booklet

Museum web pages
Web activities for students.
Ocean Life
Marine Photo Index

Australian Animals

The Australian Animals activity sheets draw student's attention Australian mammals, fishes, birds and reptiles, and to the adaptations our animals have to their environment. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

A Picture book
Australian Animals Early Years
Australian Animals Primary years
Australian Animals Middle Years

Museum web pages featuring Australian animals
Additional information for teachers and students.
Lost Fauna of Adelaide
Life and Adptations to Water
Extinctions SA

Introducing the Outback

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

These booklets give teacher information and student activities that guide students through the galleries of the museum using the outback as a theme. There are two booklets available. Outback Trail is designed to give a taste of the museum, particularly for country schools looking at educational resources in Adelaide or classes just wanting to get a feel for what the institution has to offer. The other booklet, Exploring the Outback, asks students to role play an exploration team examining the outback in more detail. It requires specific followup at school, and is designed for classes studying the outback as a long term theme.

Both trails require students to move throughout the museum, so bookings are strictly limited and splitting classes into smaller groups is preferred. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Outback Treasures Trail
Exploring the Outback (Role play)

Museum web pages featuring careers in museums
Additional information for teachers and students.
Museum@work

Ancient Egypt

Teacher information and student activities for this gallery focus on collecting evidence and using artefacts to gain insights into an ancient civilisation. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download. We have some alternative programs for some year levels. Have a look at the possibilties and select the most suitable for your students.

If you are also booked to visit the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, you can download their booklets here.

Web pages featuring ancient Egypt
Additional information for teachers and students.
Beautiful Burial
Panorama of our Egyptian gallery by Peter Murphy
Tour Egypt

Biodiversity

These trails involve students looking at animals in many of the galleries of the museum. A wide range of adaptations is evident. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Primary Years - teacher information
Primary Years - student activities

Middle Years

Museum web pages featuring Animals and adaptations
Additional information for teachers and students
Lost Fauna of Adelaide
Life and Adptations to Water
Extinctions SA
Where Have All the Butterfies Gone?

Minerals and Geology

This trail uses the work of Sir Douglas as way to access numerous geological themes. It leads into the spectacular mineral gallery. Students can gain an understanding of many geological concepts, from vulcanism to plate tectonics. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Minerals and Mawson
Earth Science Multimedia
Year 12 exploration of the Fossil Gallery

Fossils

The Origin Energy Fossil Gallery currently features a spectacular opalised skeleton called the Addyman Plesiosaur. This captivating fossil has been complemented by a wide range of other opal fossils including an ichthyosaur and numerous invertebrates. Giant animals from Australia's more recent past (such as diprotodon) accompany the opal specimens. In a new display about Ediacaran fossils from the Flinders Ranges, students will discover fossils of ancient animals that were buried here in an ancient sea bed approximately 560 million years ago. These sea-pens and other primitive creatures from the earliest times of animal evolution are some of the world’s oldest animal fossils. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Early Years
A Picture book
Preparation
Student notes
Teacher notes
Student activities

Primary Years
Preparation
Student notes
Teacher notes
Student Activities

Middle Years
Preparation
Student notes
Fossil news
Teacher notes
Student Activities

Web pages featuring fossils
Additional information for teachers and students

Origin Enery Fossil Gallery Website
Naracoorte caves

Classification

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

Through the study of birds and mammals in the museum, this program encourages senior students to examine various aspects of classification. Keys allow identification to family and order. Click on the link below. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Classification

Museum web pages featuring animals and adaptations
Additional information for teachers and students.
Lost Fauna of Adelaide
Life and Adptations to Water
Where Have All the Butterfies Gone?

Literacy

The museum is an extremely stimulating environment. The possibilities for language development are enormous. The skill of gleaning information from hierarchical textual systems in important for life-long learning. Students can interpret and produce a range multi-modal texts. Click on the link below. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Literacy at the S.A. Museum

Mammals of the World

Mammals from many parts of the world are exhibited group by the region in which they are found. Animal adaptations and diversity are easily seen. This gallery also gives younger students an opportunity to see real examples of animals they may have encountered in books and other media. Click on the resources you require. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

A Picture Book
World Mammals early years
World Mammals primary years

View the gallery on line: Panorama of the gallery by Peter Murphy.

Tourism

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

This program, designed for Senior Years students, looks at museum history, visitor attenance, funding, marketing, cultural tourism and careers. There is also a video available for loan that shows interviews with various staff members asking about their role in catering for tourists. Ring 8207 7429 for information.

Click on the link below. There are numerous illustrations, so the pages may take some time to download.

Tourism (SACE)

Technology Trail

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

This trail looks at a wide range of technologies; including traditional Aboriginal solutions to the challanges of the Australian environment, technologies of Pacific Islanders and the tools and machines used by Sir Douglas Mawson.

Technology trail - Primary and Middle Years

Science Centre

School groups can now book to see "behind the scenes". Part of the Science Centre has been opened up in the form of visual storage. If you are lucky, a scientist will be working in one of the visible labs. We recommend students visit the centre as an addition to a museum visit, not as a destination in its own right. A major component of the Science Centre is the Mawson Centre, for which can be visited if prior arrangements are made with the Education Office.

If required, inquiry cards to focus student attention are available from the reception desk of the Science Centre.

Activity cards to do in the Science Centre.

Background information and preview of the labels students will see in the Science Centre.

Preschool children

The museum is a fascinating place for preschool children. For successful learning outcomes preschool groups need to visit in small, supervised groups that can explore independently.

Early years - teaching suggestions

Pages for early Years Students

Aboriginal First Floor Gallery

Aboriginal Ground Floor Gallery

Australian Mammals Gallery

Origin Energy Fossils Gallery

World Mammals Gallery

Whole Museum visit

Fresh Water Trail

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

Fresh water is our most precious treasure of all!
An exciting new program to celebrate the International Year of Fresh Water has been designed for schools visiting the museum. A fresh water trail weaves its way through the galleries and highlights natural history specimens and artefacts on display.

Fresh Water Trail

Additional information for teachers and students.
Catchment Boards of S.A

Treasures of the Museum

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

This trail is designed to give students a focus when looking at the museum as a whole. The program looks at the items in the museum that have been specially designated as "Treasures" as well as inviting students to discover their own treasures.

Treasures of the Museum trail

Additional information for teachers and students.

The Treasures

Extinct and Endangered animals

This is a trail that uses more than one gallery. Other classes may be booked into these galleries, so we ask that teachers gain parental permission to split the class into small, supervised groups and that the groups do not all visit the same gallery at the same time.

This trail involves students in looking at animals in many of the galleries of the museum and searching out those that are extinct or endangered. We even have a real Tasmanian Tiger on display!

Visit preparation
Background notes
Primary Years Student Activities