This pre-visit slideshow forms part of a Unit of Work : ‘Shaping the Future’ designed for Stages 4 & 5 Science and Geography. It has been developed as a pre-visit activity to help teachers facilitate class discussion on how humans meet the challenges of a changing world. It thus provides students with greater context for their learning during their visit to the EcoLogic exhibition. The slideshow has support notes for teachers to refer to as they go through the various slides with their class

1. Changing times, changing lives
Pre-visit slide show for Stages 4 & 5 Unit of work on EcoLogic

2. 1850
1. Australian population
= 405,356
2. World population
= 1.26 billion
3. Average lifespan:
man = 38, woman = 40
4. Loco No 1 (inset) pulled the
first trains in NSW Steam was
produced by burning coal.
5. Most people travelled by
horse or on foot.
6. Powered flight was for
the birds.

3. 1900
1. Australian population
= 3.8 million
2. World population
= 1.65 billion
3. Average lifespan:
man = 51, woman = 54
4. Most Sydneysiders rode
electric trams in the city.
5. Motoring was in its infancy
and petrol was purchased in
tins from chemists and grocers.
6. In 1903 the Wright Brothers
made the first powered flight.

4. 1950
1. Australian population
= 8.3 million
2. World population
= 2.52 billion
3. Average lifespan:
man = 66, woman = 71
4. Qantas offers regular passenger
service on the Kangaroo Route
to London. It takes 4 days!
5. In 1951 Holden introduces
the coupe utility – Australia’s
first ute.
6. Trams close in 1961 as most
Sydney residents travel by
train, car or bus.

5. 2000
1. Australian population
= 19 million
2. World population
= 6.06 billion
3. Average lifespan:
man = 77, woman = 83
4. Electric trams are back
in Sydney CBD.
5. Toyota Prius hybrid car
available worldwide in 2001.
6. Qantas flies nonstop from
Sydney to London in 23 hours.
7. Humans live in the
International Space Station.

6. v
v
What has changed in the
past 200 years?
Review the last 4 slides and talk about what has happened to:
• Australian and world population.
• Average lifespan.
• Transportation within Sydney and around the world.
What do you think will happen by 2050?

7. Changing Technology
The Steam Revolution
Life before the steam revolution
What power sources were available before steam power?

8. What fuel was burned to create steam? Do we still use this fuel?
What is the problem with continued use of this fuel?

9. Steam was a new technology that changed the world. How did the
steam engine in this horse-drawn fire engine affect people’s lives?

10. A steam engine was used to power this merry-go-round.
How did people use this technology?

11. How did steam engines like Locomotive
Number 1 impact people’s lives?

12. After the
revolution
Steam power required big,
heavy, metal engines. How is
today’s technology different?
What materials are used to
make new technologies?
What power sources do we use?
Steam has a very important use
now – do you know what it is?

13. Related Powerhouse Museum
exhibitions and resources
EcoLogic Level 1
Transport Level 1
Cyberworlds Level 1
Australian International Design Awards Level 3
Engineering Excellence Level 3
Technologies that changed our minds Level 3
powerhousemuseum.com/education
Image credits: All images used are from the Powerhouse Museum collection