Science and Technology K–6 · Year 6
Wattle seeds and heat: why some Australian plants need fire
Science understanding: Biological sciences
Teacher-led demonstration
A teacher carries out this activity as a demonstration. Its materials, steps, variables, misconceptions and sources are not published on the open web, and neither is any result, control or note that states a number or an amount: tutors and administrators read them on the learning platform, with the safety card first. The idea, the hazards and the curriculum references are below.
Open the procedure on the learning platform (tutor or administrator sign-in)
School laboratory, not for home
In a school laboratory, with a teacher supervising, under the school's risk assessment. Not for home.
The idea
Many wattle seeds have a hard, waterproof coat that keeps water out until heat, such as the heat of a bushfire, cracks it, so a change in a physical condition decides when a new generation starts to grow.
Safety card
Setting: In a school laboratory, with a teacher supervising, under the school's risk assessment. Not for home.
Hazards
- scalds from near-boiling water
- a hot mug knocked over
Controls
- only the teacher uses the kettle and pours
- mugs stand on a tray away from the bench edge
- learners handle the seeds only after the water has cooled
- seeds are not tasted
Note
It states a number or an amount, which may be part of the method, so it is shown with the method to tutors and administrators on the learning platform.
What you should see
It states a number or an amount, which may be part of the method, so it is shown with the method to tutors and administrators on the learning platform.
Curriculum references
The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.
- Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017), current, taught until 2026; code read from the syllabus document on 22 September 2026ST3-4LW-SST3-1WS-S
- Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024), implemented from 2027; NESA's timeline is 2026 plan and prepare and 2027 start teaching, and schools may choose to implement it during 2026; code read from the outcomes page on 22 September 2026ST3-SCI-01ST3-PQU-01
- Australian Curriculum v9AC9S6U01AC9S6H02AC9S6I02AC9S6I03