Teachers Learning Resources Hub

Welcome to our teachers page. Bring Surf Lifesaving into your classroom using our free tools and resources created by our educators for primary and secondary school teachers.

Teacher Learning Resources Hub

At Surf Lifesaving NSW our mission is simple; save lives, create great Australians and build better communities. In order to do this, we want to provide our schools, teachers and students with the best possible programs, resources and opportunities to engage with us and learn about water safety, the beach and coastal environments.
Our team of educators and teachers have created curriculum aligned unit resources for Early Stage 1 to Stage 6 to assist teachers integrate beach and coastal safety activities into your lesson plans in an easy and simple way. These units are complemented by subject specific resources, worksheets and activities created by our team of educators.

PRIMARY TEACHING RESOURCES

The Primary Teaching Resources delve into the amazing world of the beach, ocean and inland waterways and lays a foundational knowledge of coastal and inland water environment safety. Explore the features of our waterways and coastlines, uncover hazards and learn how to keep safe and mitigate risks all while having fun and enjoying all that our amazing natural environments have to offer.

Early Stage 1 Teaching Resources

This unit delves into the amazing world of the beach, ocean and inland waterways and lays a foundational knowledge of coastal and inland water environment safety. Includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 1 Teaching Resources

In this unit students will uncover the hazards in our waterways and coastlines and will learn how to keep safe when enjoying them. Includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 2 Teaching Resources

In this unit students will conduct daily investigation of the conditions of the beach, discover how river systems form and create a water safety prevention strategy. Includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 3 Teaching Resources

In this unit students will conduct daily investigations of the conditions of the beach, discover how river systems form and use 'real world" water safety scenarios to create a strategy to manage and remove the danger or risk to make a safe situation. Includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 3 Ocean Plastic Pollution Activity

Discover how plastic pollution is affecting Australia's ocean wildlife and how the current local, national and global actions that could help to stem the flow of plastics into our oceans. Includes a presentation from the Australian Marine Conservation Society and activity resources.

STAGE 3 Solitary Island Aquarium Virtual Tour & Lesson Plan

Discover and learn about the characteristics and the structural and behavioral adaptations of the marine life that live on the Solitary Island Reef. Includes lesson plan and activities on how marine animals adapt to their environment.

Stage 3 Ocean Climate Change Lesson Plan

Learn about the work the scientists at the National Marine Science Centre are doing as the oceans face challenges due to human induced climate change and how we can come up with solutions. Students will undertake two experiments as part of this S3 lesson plan.

Stage 3 Coral Bleaching Lesson Plan

Students will learn about coral bleaching and use an on-line simulation to investigate the effects of different temperatures on coral.

Ask a Lifesaver!

Are your students working on an assignment, do they need a fact for a project they are trying to finish, or just out of curiosity would like their question answered by our surf lifesavers? Our lifesavers are passionate about beach and ocean safety and love sharing their experiences and extensive knowledge. Submit your question/s and we'll respond promptly with an answer.

SECONDARY TEACHING RESOURCES - STAGE 4

The learning intention in these units are to give students strategies to prevent unnecessary drownings and practice safe behaviours at the beach, to make well informed decisions about their safety & wellbeing and participate in physical activities.

Stage 4 English Teaching Resources

This unit explores how students use their story to arm themselves with strategies to have hard conversations with peers and family and make well informed decisions about their safety and wellbeing around water. Includes a 3-4 week lesson plan, subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

Stage 4 HSIE Teaching Resources

This unit includes lessons on coastal landforms and on how interactions and connections between people, places and environments result in change. Includes 3-4 week lesson plan, subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

Stage 4 PDHPE Teaching Resources

These lessons focus on inclusive surf sports and having a safe beach experience. Includes lessons with group brainstorms, individual activities, 3-4 week lesson plan, subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

Stage 4 VISUAL ARTS Teaching Resources

Students will create Students will be making a 3D art piece inspired by the “changing natural and cultural environments” of the coastal environment with reclaimed/recycled organic materials. Includes subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

STAGE 4 COASTAL SUSTAINABILITY Lesson Plan

Come along with Tim from the Coastal Environment Centre as he takes us on a survey of microplastics at Narabeen Lake. Students will learn about role stormwater pollution plays in transporting plastics to the oceans and what we can do to reduce the amount of pollution into our aquatic environments. Includes a S4 lesson plan, experiments and resources.

STAGE 4 MARINE ECOSYSTEMS Lesson Plan

Meet Lizzy! She is a passionate advocate for marine ecosystems. Students will learn the challenges the oceans face due to human induced climate change and how we can come up with solutions. Lizzy will also introduce us to the stunning marine creatures in the Bay at Minnie Water! Includes Stage 4 lesson plan and activities.

Technology mandatory (years 7-8) Behind the scenes Virtual Reality Drone Flight Simulation!

Follow the behind the scenes video in the development of surf life saving’s VR Drone Simulation. The video explores the different roles of people involved and follows the process of development from conceptual, through physical creation, practicalities and challenges.

SECONDARY TEACHING RESOURCES - STAGE 5

These units explore how students use their stories to arm themselves with strategies to have hard conversations with peers and family and make well informed decisions about their beach safety.

STAGE 5 ENGLISH Teaching Resources

In this unit, students will be using "Get Stuck In" time to explore the impact the beach or experience has had on their life. Includes subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

STAGE 5 HSIE Teaching Resources

In this unit students will create a detailed beach report and work through interactive experiments and activities on coastal management. Includes subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

STAGE 5 PDHPE Teaching Resources

This unit focuses on self reflection, "mob" mentality with a class discussion on having hard conversations about you and your mates safety. Includes subject specific resources and syllabus outcomes.

STAGE 5 Sustainability & Coastal Environment Lesson Plan

Students will study, and complete activities related to climate change on sea levels and biodiversity. Includes one hour lesson plan, class & individual tasks and extension activity.

STAGE 5 Information & Software Technology

Follow the behind the scenes video in the development of surf life saving’s VR Drone Simulation. The video explores the different roles of people involved and follows the process of development from conceptual, through physical creation, practicalities and challenges.

SECONDARY TEACHING RESOURCES - STAGE 6

Aquatic ecosystems depth study and resources focusing on aquatic contexts. Embedded with Surf Life Saving NSW education values to promote water-safety and drowning-prevention. Includes lesson plan and resources.

STAGE 6 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY - AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS Depth Study

This Depth Study focuses on Module 3 Biological Diversity content and outcomes. The Depth Study includes theoretical and practical components that achieve the 15 hours Depth Study and fieldwork requirement of the Preliminary Course. Includes a teachers guide, achievements, worksheets, lessons, handbook, assessment and resources.

STAGE 6 BIOLOGY - INTERTIDAL SHELF ECOSYSTEMS Lesson Plan

In this unit students will complete lessons on understanding of key terms relating to intertidal shelf ecosystems. This forms the basis from which they will develop their inquiry questions and hypothesis. Includes a research task, planning, field documents, field study, lab report, marking criteria and related resources.

MEET OUR TEACHERS & EDUCATORS

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JENNIFER VEAL

Jen has been teaching Science since 2015. She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Teaching from Macquarie University and has taught 7-10 science as well as senior Biology, Chemistry and Science Extension. Jen is passionate about bringing practicals into the classroom and giving students the opportunity to experience science in a hands-on way.

KAYLA ELLERY

Kayla is a NSW Secondary Educator specialising in Junior Science and Senior Biology. She is experienced in regional, remote, public, private, troubled youth and mental health settings. Kayla also has extracurricular experience as an Out of School Hours Educator, University Examination Supervisor, and mentor for foster children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

CLAUDINE NEAL

Claudine is a passionate and enthusiastic educator. She worked with SLSNSW to develop a brand new set of curriculum aligned units of work for kindy to year 12. Claudine has a deep knowledge of the NSW curriculum and the ability to think outside of the box and bring innovative thinking to the education space.

We're bringing you all the latest beach and coastal education related news, programs and resources for NSW teachers via our On Patrol newsletter.

Check out more learning resources for students:

NSW Teachers School Newsletter

On Patrol Newsletter with the Surf Life Saving NSW Community Education team! Bringing you all the latest beach & coastal education related news, programs and resources for NSW teachers and schools.

Secondary Teaching Resources

Bring Surf Lifesaving into your classroom using our free tools and resources created for NSW secondary school teachers.

Primary Teaching Resources

Curriculum linked unit outlines with a 3 week staged based lesson plan for teachers to download.

Meet our Educators

Bring Surf Lifesaving into your classroom using our free tools and resources created by our educators for NSW school teachers.

Stage 1

This curriculum based Stage 1 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 2

This curriculum based Stage 1 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 3

This curriculum based Stage 3 Unit Outline includes a 3 week, staged based, lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 4 Teaching Resources

Curriculum aligned Stage 4 units including lesson plans and supporting resources for secondary teachers.

Stage 5 Teaching Resources

Curriculum based Stage 5 resources includes a 3-4 week, staged based lesson plan and activities for teachers to download.

Stage 6 Teaching Resources

Curriculum aligned Stage 6 resources include a teacher guide, worksheets, outcomes and assessments and supporting resources.

Beach to Bush (K-6)

Each year our volunteer lifesavers go "bush" to educate students about beach and water safety.