11–12Earth and Environmental Science 11–12 Syllabus (2025)
The new Earth and Environmental Science 11–12 Syllabus (2025) is to be implemented from 2028 and will replace the Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus (2017).
2026 and 2027
- Plan and prepare to teach the new syllabus
2028, Term 1
- Start teaching the new syllabus for Year 11
- Start implementing new Year 11 school-based assessment requirements
- Continue to teach the Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) for Year 12
2028, Term 4
- Start teaching the new syllabus for Year 12
- Start implementing new Year 12 school-based assessment requirements
2029
- First HSC examination for new syllabus
Content
Life Skills
- EES-LS-05
identifies the impacts of human or natural activities on the environment
- EES-LS-07
participates in sustainable practices
- EES-LS-10
identifies features of weather and climate
Through collaborative curriculum planning, it may be decided that Life Skills outcomes and content are the most appropriate option for some students with intellectual disability.
Teachers select relevant Working scientifically outcomes and content to integrate with this focus area based on the strengths and needs of individual students.
LoadingRecognise a range of weather conditions
Identify features on a weather map
Participate in a practical investigation to explore how heat is reflected off different surfaces
Participate in a practical investigation to collect weather readings over several days
Identify patterns or changes in weather data
Make informed decisions based on weather data
Recognise the difference between weather and climate
Recognise the usefulness of scientific data to map weather and climate
Identify features of climate
Identify different climatic zones of Australia
Identify natural impacts on climate
Recognise the impacts of ocean currents on climate
Use models to explore the movement of heat energy by ocean currents
Compare local and national weather or climate data
Identify technologies used to monitor and predict weather patterns
Explore daily weather predictions using technology
Explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Knowledges about weather
Demonstrate skills in adapting to weather changes
Recognise that burning fuels releases carbon dioxide gas
Recognise that trees and plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Identify the effect of increased levels of carbon dioxide gas on global temperature
Participate in a secondary-source investigation to identify human activities that impact levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Recognise that changes to global temperature are part of climate change
Identify data collected by climate scientists that supports the conclusion that Earth’s climate is changing
Identify Aboriginal rock art sites that provide evidence of extinct species and climate variation
Identify impacts of climate change
Describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Practices of Cultural burns to facilitate regeneration of native vegetation
Recognise that individuals leave a carbon footprint due to daily living
Demonstrate strategies individuals can use to reduce their carbon footprint
Identify strategies local and global communities can use to respond to climate change