11–12Earth and Environmental Science Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Identify 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