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-04
identifies the Earth’s resources and their uses
- EES-LS-05
identifies the impacts of human or natural activities on the environment
- EES-LS-06
identifies practices to manage and protect the Earth’s resources
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.
LoadingIdentify activities that require water in everyday living
Identify human activities that require water, including food production and consumption, leisure and hygiene
Recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have connections with water Country and Place
Identify bodies of water in the local area
Use maps and interactive tools to locate bodies of water in Australia
Use models, maps or digital technology to identify the distribution of water on Earth, including the amount available to animals and plants
Identify that water needs to be clean to be safe for drinking, swimming, bathing and other uses
Identify ways water can be polluted from natural and human activities
Participate in a scientific investigation to identify how human activities impact water quality
Compare wastewater and stormwater
Participate in a practical investigation to test the quality of water in a local waterway
Demonstrate safe practices when testing water quality in a local waterway
Participate in a practical investigation to model the processes used to treat wastewater
Recognise the importance of water quality guidelines
Explore how water can be purified for human consumption, including via water filtration and desalination
Explore ways to manage water supply in the local area, including water restrictions and dam capacity
Recognise the importance of soil to human lives and to plants and animals
Observe components of soil
Identify soil types
Participate in a scientific investigation to classify local soil types
Recognise poor soil health
Identify human activities that can impact soil
Consider strategies to improve soil health that enhance plant growth
Recognise soil erosion and ways human activity contributes to soil erosion
Recognise soil salinity and ways human activity contributes to soil salinity
Explore examples of soil erosion, soil health or soil salinity in the local area
Explore practices Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples use to maintain healthy soil, prevent erosion and foster plant growth
Recognise different local ecosystems
Identify different ecosystems in Australia and their locations
Engage with a local ecosystem to observe the range of plants and animals
Recognise biodiversity in ecosystems
Identify native species of Australian plants and animals
Observe native species of Australian plants and animals in a local ecosystem
Recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ connections to plants and animals
Identify species of plants and animals introduced to Australia
Explore the introduction of species to Australia
Recognise a range of views about introduced species
Participate in a scientific investigation of a native or introduced species in the local area
Identify some biosecurity procedures in Australia
Explore Australia’s need for biosecurity procedures
Explore ways to manage native or introduced plants and animals
Identify the impacts of invasive species
Identify the impacts of human activity on native plants and animals
Recognise factors that lead to a native species becoming endangered or extinct
Explore ways to protect native species in Australia