Backyard Biodiversity Explorers
A complete outdoor science curriculum for Years 3-6.
No excursions required.
Backyard Biodiversity Explorers turns your school grounds or backyard into a working field site. Over eight modules, students survey real invertebrates, map habitat layers, build food webs, and contribute to citizen science - all without leaving the grounds. Every lesson is ready to run, fully differentiated for Stage 2 and Stage 3, and aligned to Australian Curriculum v9.
What’s included?
Backyard Biodiversity Explorers is a complete program - not a random collection of worksheets. Everything your class needs, from the first lesson to the final investigation, is included in a single licence.
8 complete modules.
Each module includes a teacher guide, stage-differentiated student guide, and six worksheets - three for Stage 2, three for Stage 3.
Curriculum mapping.
Full AC v9 mapping document covering content codes and descriptions, so coordinators and curriculum leaders can see alignment at a glance.
62 species ID cards.
Full-colour identification cards covering six groups: plants, invertebrates, birds, fungi, reptiles, and mammals commonly found on Australian school grounds.
Student field notebook.
A journal students carry across all eight modules, building a personal record of their fieldwork from start to finish.
Teacher handbook.
Covers program setup, safety, assessment, differentiation, and homeschool guidance - everything in one place before you start.
Regional species packs.
Seven state and territory packs available as optional add-ons, featuring locally relevant species, seasonal calendars, and ecosystem overviews.
Eight modules. One school year.
Each module runs across three 60-minute lessons and can be taught in any term. The program is designed to build across the year - but every module also works as a standalone unit.
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Species, genetic and ecosystem diversity - and why losing any one type matters
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Quadrats, sampling, variables, and what makes a fair test
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How your school grounds are divided into layers - and who lives in each one
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Classification, structural adaptations, and invertebrates as ecosystem health indicators
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Plant parts, how adaptations work, and why native plants belong
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Trophic levels, keystone species, and what happens when one species disappears
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Habitat fragmentation, wildlife corridors, and conservation strategies students can actually propose
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A full scientific inquiry using real data, and a conservation action plan
Built for mixed classrooms.
Every module is fully differentiated for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) and Stage 3 (Years 5-6).
Both stages go outside together and collect the same data - differentiation happens in what students do with it back in the classroom. Stage 2 students observe, describe, and sort. Stage 3 students analyse, calculate, and evaluate. Same fieldwork. Different depth.
Stage 2 (Years 3-4):
Observing, describing, and sorting findings
Drawing simple food chains and ecosystem maps
Writing 3-4 sentence scientific responses
Hypothesis format: "I think that... because..."
Stage 3 (Years 5-6):
Analysing data and identifying patterns
Building food webs and calculating energy flow
Writing multi-paragraph explanations with evidence
Hypothesis format: "If... then... because..."
Designed for real schools and home-based learning.
No excursions.
Every module runs on school grounds. No buses, no permission slips, no specialist sites. If your school has a garden, a grassed area, or a patch of pavement, you have everything you need.
No specialist equipment.
Students use basic materials and their own observations. Free digital apps are recommended in some instances, but these are as a supplement to the program, not a requirement.
Ready to run.
Every lesson includes a suggested teacher script, a list of materials, safety notes, and differentiation guidance. Experienced science teachers will find plenty of room to make it their own. First-timers can follow it step by step.
What teachers are saying.
Backyard Biodiversity Explorers is launching in 2026. We're currently working with our founding schools - feedback and reviews will appear here as the program rolls out. In the meantime, download the free preview to see the quality of Module 1 for yourself.
Licensing and pricing.
Backyard Biodiversity Explorers is sold as a digital licence - download everything immediately after purchase, with no shipping and no waiting. Choose the licence that fits your situation below.
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Complete 8-module program, all stages, unlimited classes school-wide
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Complete 8-module program licensed for one class. Credit of $149 applies if you upgrade to a full school licence.
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Upgrade a single-class trial to a full school licence
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School licence plus all 7 regional packs
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Complete 8-module program for one family
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Homeschool licence plus all 7 regional packs
Full licence terms in detail are available HERE.
Founding school offer.
The first 20 schools to licence Backyard Biodiversity Explorers receive founding school pricing of $499 - a $200 saving on the standard school licence. Founding schools also get priority access to future programs and direct input into product development.
Contact us directly to discuss.
Want locally relevant species?
Regional species packs are available for all seven states and territories - NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, NT, and TAS. Each pack includes 25 local species profiles, a seasonal observation calendar, and a regional ecosystem overview.
Add a single region for $39, or get all seven for $199. (Already included in ultimate bundles.)
Ready to get started?
Every licence includes an immediate digital download - no waiting, no shipping.
Please ensure you have read the licence terms prior to selecting a product. If you have questions about which licence is right for your school or family, get in touch before purchasing.
Select your product licence:
Founding School Offer:
The first 20 schools to licence Backyard Biodiversity Explorers receive founding school pricing of $499 - a $200 saving on the standard school licence. Founding schools also get priority access to future programs and direct input into product development.
School Upgrade from Single Class:
If you have previously purchased a single-class licence and wish to upgrade to a whole school licence, your single-class payment is credited to your purchase - upgrade pricing of $550. Contact us directly to arrange your licence upgrade.
Not ready to commit? Download a free preview.
The free preview pack includes actual Module 1 content, including a teacher’s guide extract, the Stage 2 student guide, and a Stage 2 worksheet.
No email required, no strings attached.
