National Science Week 2024

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!

Since it began in 1997, this science-themed event has occurred every August. In 2024, the Australian National Science Week dates are from 10 to 18 August.

That means students will have an entire week to join in on one of the largest science events in the country!

The theme for this event changes every year, opening up new opportunities to get students excited and inspire your classroom activities.

In 2024, the theme will be Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability. The theme focuses on showing how science and innovation help different species survive and thrive in a constantly changing world. Students will get to explore a range of topics and dive into issues that really interest them, like disease-causing organisms, life-saving chemicals, clean water, photosynthesis, genetic screening, the physics of building structures, artificial intelligence, and microplastics, while also preparing today's kids to be tomorrow's science leaders of Australia.

According to Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, 'Encouraging more Australians from all corners of our society to enter STEM careers starts with igniting a passion for science in school.'

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:

• 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
• Innovation: Powering Future Industries

Wondering what you can do in the classroom to celebrate National Science Week? Here are some ideas:

• Why not have students come dressed up as scientists and set up a science-themed photo booth in the classroom?
• Set up science stations where students learn about different science themes. This year, to fit the 2024 Science Week theme, you could set up activities for clean water, such as a water filtration experiment, a water cycle model with in a plastic bag, or why not go on a virtual field trip and learn how water is cleaned before it reaches homes.
• Use bread slices to show how germs spread. Touch one slice with unwashed hands and another with washed hands, then observe mold growth over time.
• Use some science-themed classroom decorations to set up a display for National Science Week.
• Spend each afternoon of the week following the scientific method and conducting science experiments for the classroom.