Ediacara Teaching Resources from the South Australian Museum

South Australia is internationally recognised for the remarkable fossils found at Ediacara in the Flinders Ranges. These fossils represent some of the earliest complex life on Earth and provide an important opportunity for students to explore how scientists investigate the history of life and ancient environments.

The South Australian Museum has developed a range of high-quality resources to support teaching and learning about the Ediacaran fossils and Earth’s early history. These materials include background information, classroom activities and curriculum-linked resources that help students investigate fossils, geological time and the evolution of early life.

Teachers may find the following resources particularly useful:

• Ediacara eBook – An engaging digital resource that explores the discovery of the Ediacaran fossils, the organisms that lived during this time and why these fossils are so significant to our understanding of early life.
• Earth Sciences Education Resources – Curriculum-aligned materials covering fossils, geological time, plate tectonics and Earth’s changing environments.
• SA Museum Education Resources – A broad collection of classroom resources developed for schools, including activities and teaching materials related to natural history and Earth science.
• Ediacara Fossils Resource – A downloadable teaching resource that provides additional information, images and ideas to support classroom learning.
• Fossils Gallery Guide – A document describing the South Australian Museum galleries and displays that feature Ediacaran fossils, providing useful background context for teachers and students.

These resources can help bring South Australia’s fossil heritage into the classroom and support students to develop a deeper understanding of how scientists interpret evidence from the past to reconstruct the history of life on Earth.