National Science Week 2026: 15 Easy Classroom Activities for Primary Students

National Science Week 2026 will take place across Australia from Saturday 15 August to Sunday 23 August. The school theme is Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All, which encourages students to explore how questions, ideas and discoveries grow through curiosity, investigation and collaboration.

Primary classes can participate through simple investigations, design challenges and outdoor observations.

National Science Week 2026 at a glance

• Dates: 15–23 August 2026
• School theme: Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All
• Main ideas: Curiosity, inquiry, experimentation and shared learning
• Suitable year levels: Foundation to Year 6
• Useful learning areas: Science, STEM, sustainability, literacy and mathematics

The theme is not limited to gardening or agriculture. Students can investigate how ideas are “seeded”, tested, improved and shared across areas such as biology, physics, chemistry, engineering and environmental science.

15 easy National Science Week activities

1. Create a seed germination window

Place damp paper towel and bean seeds inside a transparent bag. Attach it to a sunny window and record changes each day.

Best for: Foundation–Year 3

Science idea: Plant growth and germination

Inquiry question: What does a seed need to begin growing?

Teachers introducing plant development may also find the life cycles of plants and animals useful for building students’ background knowledge.

2. Design a travelling seed

Invite students to create a paper seed that floats, spins or sticks to fabric. Test each design and discuss how real seeds travel.

Best for: Years 2–6

Science idea: Seed dispersal and adaptation

3. Complete a schoolyard biodiversity survey

Walk around the school and record the plants, birds, insects and other living things students observe.

Best for: Foundation–Year 6

Science idea: Habitats and biodiversity

This activity can support discussions about how living things depend on each other and the environment.

4. Test paper helicopters

Create paper helicopters with different blade lengths. Drop them from the same height and compare how long they take to reach the floor.

Best for: Years 3–6

Science idea: Gravity and air resistance

5. Make water walk

Place coloured water in two cups and connect them with folded paper towel. Observe the water move through the paper.

Science idea: Absorption and capillary action

6. Investigate mystery materials

Ask students to classify everyday objects according to flexibility, texture, absorbency, transparency or magnetism.

This properties of classroom materials investigation can be completed with items already available in the room.

7. Track a shadow

Mark the location of a shadow at several times during the day. Compare its length and direction.

Science idea: Light, shadows and the movement of the Sun

8. Build a simple water filter

Layer fabric, gravel and sand inside a cut bottle. Pour muddy water through the layers and observe the changes.

The filtered water is not safe to drink.

9. Create a mini greenhouse

Place one seedling inside a clear container and another outside it. Compare temperature, moisture and growth.

Science idea: Growing conditions and environmental change

10. Make a balloon-powered car

Use cardboard, bottle tops, straws and a balloon to construct a moving vehicle.

Science idea: Pushes, air pressure and movement

11. Predict what will float

Collect safe classroom objects. Ask students to predict whether each one will float or sink before testing it in water.

12. Explore sound vibrations

Stretch elastic bands around an empty container and pluck them gently. Change their thickness or tension and compare the sounds.

13. Map schoolyard temperatures

Measure the temperature in sunny, shaded, grassy and paved areas. Record the results in a table.

This is a helpful low-prep schoolyard science investigation for exploring how surfaces and shade affect local temperature.

14. Build the strongest paper bridge

Fold one sheet of paper in different ways and test how many counters or blocks each design can hold.

Science idea: Shape, structure and strength

15. Grow a classroom question wall

Ask each student to write one science question. Choose several questions to investigate as a class, then display the discoveries beside them.

Students who finish an investigation early can continue with independent challenges or suitable early-finisher task cards.

How to adapt the activities for different year levels

• For Foundation to Year 2, focus on predicting, observing, drawing and discussing what happened.
• For Years 3 and 4, include simple measurements, labelled diagrams, vocabulary and comparison tables.
• For Years 5 and 6, ask students to identify variables, repeat tests, analyse results and explain how an investigation could be improved.

Frequently asked questions

When is National Science Week 2026?

National Science Week 2026 will run from 15 to 23 August 2026 across Australia. Schools can participate during the official week or organise related activities around these dates.

What is the National Science Week 2026 school theme?

The school theme is “Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All.” It explores how scientific understanding develops when ideas are questioned, investigated, shared and applied.

Do classroom activities need to follow the theme?

No. The annual theme provides inspiration, but schools may run any activity that encourages scientific curiosity, investigation or community participation.

What are some National Science Week activities with no specialist equipment?

Suitable science activities using everyday classroom materials include paper bridges, shadow tracking, floating-and-sinking tests, biodiversity surveys and paper helicopters.

Where can teachers find official National Science Week resources?

The official National Science Week schools page provides event information, activity suggestions and access to the 2026 teacher resource book and student journal.

National Science Week activities do not need to be complicated. A simple question, a few familiar materials and time to observe can help students see science as an active and exciting way to understand the world around them.