About
For thousands of years, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples have cared for Country using the traditional fire management practice of Cultural Burning. Year 7 students are invited to investigate how Indigenous Peoples use fire to manage ecosystems, with a focus on fire as an abiotic factor and its interaction with living (biotic) components. Through teacher-led lessons, experiments, e-learning activities, and case studies, students explore how Cultural Burning promotes plant growth, maintains habitats, and supports sustainable land management.
By examining the influence of fire on processes such as seed germination rate, students will see firsthand how fire is a vital component of many Australian ecosystems. The way in which Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples applied scientific observation skills thousands of years ago continues to be recognised and applied today; in the way we recognise patterns in plant responses to fire and in the management and shaping of landscapes.
All educational materials are linked to the NSW syllabus and Australian curriculum.
Cultural Sensitivity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this module may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons. In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, hearing recordings, seeing images or the names of deceased persons may cause sadness or distress and in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions.
Before you start
Respecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property
Please note that Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) is embedded within these Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (‘STEM’) Education Resources (the ‘Resources’). ICIP includes the knowledge and cultural heritage of Indigenous people, such as artwork, music, stories, language, and cultural objects and practices. For further information about how CSIRO protects ICIP, see Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Principles - CSIRO.
Use of ICIP for educational outreach only
These Resources are for high school educators or secondary school students to support Indigenous STEM. These Resources have been published with the permission of the ICIP owners and with certain conditions on their use. This is to assert the ownership, authority and control of the ICIP owners over their ICIP and associated rights as embedded in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) – Article 31
Cultural Considerations
An eLearning course designed to guide educators and STEM professionals in building inclusive learning environments through cultural awareness and community engagement.
Curriculum links
Australian curriculum and syllabus connections
View how the Cultural Burning resources can be linked to certain learning areas within the NSW syllabus and Australian curriculum.
Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links
Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links - accessible version
Student and teacher resources
Context PowerPoint
This presentation provides background context on the Cultural Burning topic and the introduction of abiotic and biotic factors. Use it at the beginning of the unit sequence to build a foundational understanding.
Cultural Burning Context PowerPoint
Classroom activities guide
This guide outlines a range of classroom activities to support student understanding of abiotic and biotic factors in relation to Cultural Burning. Use it to plan lessons to reinforce key ideas through discussion and hands-on learning.
Classroom Activities Guide - accessible version
Example teaching sequence
This teaching sequence supports Year 7 teachers to deliver the Cultural Burning topic aligned to the NSW syllabus and the Australian Curriculum (AC). Use this as a guide when planning lessons and structuring learning across the unit.
AC Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version
NSW Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version
Student eLearn module
This interactive eLearning module supports students to build understanding of Cultural Burning through videos, interactive activities and a case study. It is designed for students and can be used before, during or after the unit to introduce concepts, reinforce learning or support revision.
This self-paced online module for students will take approximately 45 mins to complete.
Experiment resources
To prepare for the Cultural Burning experiments, teachers should read the Teacher Experiment and Procedures Guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the FIRE and HEAT experiments. The Equipment List and Hazard Management Guide outlines the materials required and key safety considerations. Teachers should use this resource during planning and before any practical activities.
Begin lessons with the Cultural Burning Experiment PowerPoint, which guides students through the investigation process and provides visual support for the experiments. Students use the Student FIRE and/or HEAT Experiment Procedure and Planners, which detail the step-by-step procedures and provide space for recording observations, analysis, and reflections. These should be used during the practical activities alongside the PowerPoint to support student learning.
Click the button below to download the Cultural Burning Experiment Resources zip file, containing 5 experiment resources.
Experiment Resources- accessible version
About
For thousands of years, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples have cared for Country using the traditional fire management practice of Cultural Burning. Year 7 students are invited to investigate how Indigenous Peoples use fire to manage ecosystems, with a focus on fire as an abiotic factor and its interaction with living (biotic) components. Through teacher-led lessons, experiments, e-learning activities, and case studies, students explore how Cultural Burning promotes plant growth, maintains habitats, and supports sustainable land management.
By examining the influence of fire on processes such as seed germination rate, students will see firsthand how fire is a vital component of many Australian ecosystems. The way in which Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples applied scientific observation skills thousands of years ago continues to be recognised and applied today; in the way we recognise patterns in plant responses to fire and in the management and shaping of landscapes.
All educational materials are linked to the NSW syllabus and Australian curriculum.
Cultural Sensitivity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this module may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons. In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, hearing recordings, seeing images or the names of deceased persons may cause sadness or distress and in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions.
Before you start
Respecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property
Please note that Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) is embedded within these Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (‘STEM’) Education Resources (the ‘Resources’). ICIP includes the knowledge and cultural heritage of Indigenous people, such as artwork, music, stories, language, and cultural objects and practices. For further information about how CSIRO protects ICIP, see Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Principles - CSIRO.
Use of ICIP for educational outreach only
These Resources are for high school educators or secondary school students to support Indigenous STEM. These Resources have been published with the permission of the ICIP owners and with certain conditions on their use. This is to assert the ownership, authority and control of the ICIP owners over their ICIP and associated rights as embedded in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) – Article 31
Cultural Considerations
An eLearning course designed to guide educators and STEM professionals in building inclusive learning environments through cultural awareness and community engagement.
Curriculum links
Australian curriculum and syllabus connections
View how the Cultural Burning resources can be linked to certain learning areas within the NSW syllabus and Australian curriculum.
Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links PDF (287 KB)
Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links - accessible version TXT (5 KB)
Student and teacher resources
Context PowerPoint
This presentation provides background context on the Cultural Burning topic and the introduction of abiotic and biotic factors. Use it at the beginning of the unit sequence to build a foundational understanding.
Cultural Burning Context PowerPoint PPTX (131 MB)
Classroom activities guide
This guide outlines a range of classroom activities to support student understanding of abiotic and biotic factors in relation to Cultural Burning. Use it to plan lessons to reinforce key ideas through discussion and hands-on learning.
Classroom Activities Guide PDF (3 MB)
Classroom Activities Guide - accessible version TXT (24 KB)
Example teaching sequence
This teaching sequence supports Year 7 teachers to deliver the Cultural Burning topic aligned to the NSW syllabus and the Australian Curriculum (AC). Use this as a guide when planning lessons and structuring learning across the unit.
AC Example Teaching Sequence PDF (477 KB)
AC Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version TXT (14 KB)
NSW Example Teaching Sequence PDF (435 KB)
NSW Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version TXT (14 KB)
Student eLearn module
This interactive eLearning module supports students to build understanding of Cultural Burning through videos, interactive activities and a case study. It is designed for students and can be used before, during or after the unit to introduce concepts, reinforce learning or support revision.
This self-paced online module for students will take approximately 45 mins to complete.
Open the student module [Link will open in a new window]
Experiment resources
To prepare for the Cultural Burning experiments, teachers should read the Teacher Experiment and Procedures Guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the FIRE and HEAT experiments. The Equipment List and Hazard Management Guide outlines the materials required and key safety considerations. Teachers should use this resource during planning and before any practical activities.
Begin lessons with the Cultural Burning Experiment PowerPoint, which guides students through the investigation process and provides visual support for the experiments. Students use the Student FIRE and/or HEAT Experiment Procedure and Planners, which detail the step-by-step procedures and provide space for recording observations, analysis, and reflections. These should be used during the practical activities alongside the PowerPoint to support student learning.
Click the button below to download the Cultural Burning Experiment Resources zip file, containing 5 experiment resources.
Experiment Resources ZIP (40 MB)
Experiment Resources- accessible version ZIP (35 MB)