• Audience
    Secondary school
  • Learning stage
    Stage 4, Stage 5
  • Learning area
    Climate change, Mathematics, Science
  • Type
    Learning unit, Learning resources

On this page...


Sharks is an exhibition about sharks, but it is also an exhibition about us.

Having swum in the world’s oceans for over 450 million years and survived five global mass extinctions, sharks are now under threat. Unsustainable fishing, habitat destruction and climate change are impacting sharks. Our attitudes and our actions will decide the fate of these ancient survivors.

Here in Sydney, where the Pacific meets Australia, we’re honoured to have Australian and Pacific First Nations people, scientists and conservationists, sharing their stories about sharks.


Through this unit, students will:

  • engage with Sharks exhibition content.
  • question what they know and feel about sharks.
  • identify shark features and classify based on similarities and differences.
  • learn about food chains and the important role sharks play.
  • research the threats to shark species and what can be done to protect them.

NSW syllabus outcomes

SC4-7WS; SC4-14LW; SC4-15LW; SC5-7WS; SC5-14LW; SC5-15LW



  • Before your visit

    • Acknowledgement of Country

      Gadigal Shield and Statement of Reflection

      Learn about the importance of an Acknowledgement of Country, and write one for your school.

      Item type
      For teachers
      Duration
      10-15 min to complete
      Content Summary
      First Nations activity
      Mapping activity
    • How do sharks make you feel?

      Blue Shark, Prionace glauca

      Where do we get our ideas about sharks? Do you feel strongly about them, one way or the other?

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      5-10 min to complete
    • What is a shark?

      Sharks exhibition launch

      Use this diagnostic assessment to find out what your students know about sharks already, how we classify them and what they would like to find out more about.

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      10-15 min to complete
    • Shark report card

      Infographic of facts about sharks.

      Analyse data collected by the state and federal governments of Australia on shark populations around the country.

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      10-15 min to complete
      Content Summary
      Numeracy activty
      Research project
    • Understanding food chains

      Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) carcass found on the ocean floor, stripped clean of its flesh by surrounding tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier).

      Watch a short video explaining the concept of a food chain and then visit the SharkSmart website to get started on your own shark food chain.

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      15-30 min to complete
      Content Summary
      Video activity
      Animal factsheet
    • Building a food web

      SCUBA divers dive with Bull Sharks in Fiji.

      Combine your food chains to create a food web! Can you combine with your whole class to make everything interconnected?

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      10-15 min to complete
      Content Summary
      Physical activity
      Sustainability and climate
  • At the Museum

  • After your visit

    • What have you learnt so far?

      Secondary Education 2018

      Use a short reflective exercise to get your students thinking about their visit to the Museum and the animals they saw.

      Item type
      For students
      Content Summary
      Formative assessment
    • A shark's tale

      Live shark finning in Australia and Pacific countries

      Tell a story with statistics and get creative with infographic design!

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      15-30 min to complete
      Content Summary
      Numeracy activty
      Sustainability and climate
      Research project
    • Keeping an eye out

      Be sea smart to help protect shark populations

      Can you think of new ways to stay safe in the water and minimise our harm to sea creatures? Use the SharkSmart website to review technologies being used in NSW and then design your own.

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      15-30 min to complete
      Content Summary
      Sustainability and climate
      Digital interactive
      Formative assessment
    • Shark PR

      Sharknado movie poster (2013)

      Some animals get bad press! Select a shark that you learnt about while at the Museum, and make a short 'promotional' video about how important it is.

      Item type
      For students
      Duration
      45-60 min to complete
      Content Summary
      Video activity
      Literacy activty
      Sustainability and climate
      Research project