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Going underground

Going underground

Learn more about the reasons for tunnel boring and going underground as Dr. Kirsten and Cameron showcase the power station.

Go 366 metres underground in Tumut 1 Power Station with Dr. Kirsten and Manager Plant Engineering, Cameron.

To get underground, there were many iterations of machinery. Currently, Snowy Hydro’s project Snowy 2.0 uses a few different Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).

Key information

Learning area: STEM
Suitable for: year 5-8 classrooms
Topics: engineering, technology, physics
Duration: 1 x 45min lessons
Preparation: none
Materials: none

Resources

Fact sheets

Tunnel Boring Machine fact sheet

Our 3 TBMs and the women they’re named after

About TBM Kirsten
About TBM Lady Eileen Hudson
About TBM Florence

This unit is currently undergoing a curriculum mapping refresh. Thank you for your patience while this is updated.

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Dams and reservoirs – transforming the energy of water

Dams and reservoirs
transforming the energy of water

Dams are an integral part of the Snowy Hydro Scheme. They are used to create reservoirs which store water. Although the dam is an engineering feat in itself, it’s the transformation of energy through moving this stored water that is key to generating hydropower.

In this unit you will

-be introduced to dams and reservoirs
-learn about the anatomy of an effective dam
-see how Snowy Hydro uses gravity to transform the energy in water.

Key information

Learning area: science
Suitable for: year 7-9 classrooms
Topics: energy, water, physics, engineering
Duration: 2 x 45min lessons
Preparation: required if wanting to replicate dam activity.
Materials: specialist materials required to replicate dam activity.

Resources

Resources that match each section of this resource are displayed next to the video resource.

Curriculum links

This unit is currently undergoing a curriculum mapping refresh. Thank you for your patience while this is updated.

Is it a dam or a reservoir?

In this video Dr. Kirsten chats with, Ryan, Manager Plant Engineering  about water storage. Learn the difference between dams and reservoirs with Dr. Kirsten and Ryan at the Khancoban dam wall. 

Dam and reservoirs comprehension sheet

Dam and reservoirs comprehension sheet
Dam and reservoirs comprehension answer sheet

The anatomy of a dam

Being able to store water and its potential energy is a key in Snowy Hydro’s hydropower generation. Storing water in multiple reservoirs behind dams allows the water to be accessed to generate power as it is released. Dam safety is determined by the dam’s structure and build. Take a look at what goes into the creation of a dam.

Fact sheets

About our dam infrastructure
Dam engineering features

Dam quiz

Dam infrastructure quiz
Dam infrastructure quiz answers

Using gravity to transform the energy of water

Learn about the power of gravity and the role this natural force plays in the generation of hydro-electricity.

Follow Dr. Kirsten and Mechanical Plant Engineer, Joe to the depth of Murray 1 Power Station as they dive into discussing gravity.

Gravity comprehension sheets

Gravity activity sheet
Gravity activity answer key

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Sciences of the Snowy Scheme with Dr. Kirsten Banks

The Sciences of the Snowy Scheme with Dr Kirsten Banks

Start your Snowy journey and learn about the Snowy Scheme. Dr. Kirsten Banks is a Wiradjuri astrophysicist, science communicator, Snowy 2.0 tunnel boring machine (TBM) namesake and is a brilliant inspiration to the next generation in STEM.
Follow Dr. Kirsten as she provides a comprehensive overview of the Scheme. 

It is recommended to view this video first to gain an overall insight into the Scheme operations before launching into the rest of the Dr. Kirsten Banks learning modules.

Key Information

Learning area: STEM
Suitable for: All Year Levels
Topics: electricity, energy, engineering, water
Duration: optional. this resource begins a path to more Snowy Hydro resources
Preparation: none
Materials: none

About this resource

Dr. Kirsten is an incredibly interactive guide who will take you and your students through the Snowy Scheme.
View this video first with your class for context, then follow the resource trail below to navigate between the pieces of the Snowy Scheme.

Explore the other Snowy STEM Academy resources

**Note that content and activities within these following resources cater to differing age groups. While the Kirsten Banks videos are relevant for all year levels, the following resources may not be.

Weather

The water cycle
and Snowy Hydro

Moving water
through the
Snowy Scheme

Dams and reservoirs –
transforming the energy of water

Going underground

Turbines and power generation

Snowy 2.0

Surface area
and volume

STEM Careers

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Calculating surface area and volume

Calculating area, surface area and volume

The Snowy Hydro Year 9 Maths program aims to showcase the applications of maths using real-life everyday practical examples linking the workplace at Snowy Hydro to a deeper understanding of maths. Through a series of targeted videos and accompanying activities all aligned to curriculum, students will discover that maths is all around us. This program encourages the continuation of maths studies into students senior years, while also meeting the learning needs of curriculum in Stage 5.

Key information

Learning area: Maths
Suitable for: year 9 classrooms
Topics: maths: surface area, volume, design
Duration: 3 x 45min lessons
Preparation: none
Materials: none

How to use these resources

The video resources below show real world applications where Snowy Hydro use these foundational equations.

Consider using the videos as a ‘hook’ to start each class. Then, dependent on your class’ levels, use corresponding activities from your chosen textbook before finishing the class with the corresponding Snowy Hydro activity sheets to apply the learning.

Area

Area calculations worksheet

Surface area

Surface area calculations worksheet

Volume

Volume calculations worksheet

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Weather’s role in hydropower

Weather’s role in hydropower

The weather is an integral part of the Snowy Hydro power generation story. Learn the importance of monitoring and understanding the weather, the seasons and how it all plays a crucial role in the movement of water and generating of renewable energy.

Travel to the Guthega Meteorological Station in winter with Dr. Kirsten and Hydrographic Program Improvement Lead, Mic.

Key information

Learning area: science
Suitable for: all years: video; resources: year 4-5 classrooms
Topics: environment, water, geography
Duration: 2 x 45min lessons
Preparation: minimal preparation for making snow activity
Materials: Household materials required

Resources

Comprehension sheet

Student comprehension sheet
Teacher answer key

Curriculum links

Find below the curriculum links for these resources. Please note that these are mapped to ACv8.4. Updates are coming soon.

Weather curriculum links

Hands-on activities


Snowflake activity

Snowflake activity template and guide

Use the video as a guide or demonstration.

Make your own snow

Make your own snow

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The water cycle and Snowy Hydro

The water cycle and Snowy Hydro

Water is integral to Snowy Hydro’s operations.

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous path that all water follows. Learn how Snowy Hydro works with the water cycle to harness the power of water to generate renewable energy.

Visit the Snowy Scheme’s largest and central storage reservoir, Lake Eucumbene with Dr. Kirsten and Manager Water Modelling, Jeremy. Find out why this body of water is important to the Scheme’s operations and learn all things water at Snowy. 

Key information

Learning area: science
Suitable for: year 7 classrooms
Topics: water
Duration: 2 x 45min lessons
Preparation: minimal required for each teacher demonstration. minimal required for activity.
Materials: household materials required for teacher demonstrations. household materials required activity.

Resources

Fact sheet

Water cycle fact sheet

Teacher demonstrations

Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation

Hands on activity

Water cycle wheel

Curriculum links

Find below the curriculum links for these resources. Please note that these are mapped to ACv8.4. Updates are coming soon.

Water cycle curriculum links

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Women in STEM

STEM Careers

Celebrating the contributions of women to STEM

At Snowy Hydro people are our greatest assets. 

The STEM careers research project introduces students to the idea of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), as a career path, while extending their knowledge and learning experience to discover more about great Australian women in STEM from Snowy Hydro.

The learning package has been designed to provide teachers with introductory resources to display the breadth of STEM careers available and celebrate the contributions that women have made in the advancement of STEM.

Get started introducing your students to STEM careers as Dr. Kirsten speaks with five of Snowy Hydro’s inspiring women working in STEM. Learn more about their role at Snowy and gain valuable insights into their motivations and inspirations.

In this video you will meet Senior Environmental Adviser, Alex; Electrical Cadet, Laura; Senior Climate Scientist, Johanna; Engineering Cadet, Meg; Electrical Apprentice, Sallie

Key information

Learning area: STEM
Suitable for: high school classrooms and late primary classrooms
Topics: engineering, science
Duration: Project: 2-4 x 45min lessons depending on depth
Preparation: providing research sheets to students
Materials: none

Resources

The resources that correspond to the research project options for this module are provided next to the research project descriptions below.

Curriculum links

Find below the curriculum links for these resources. Please note that these are mapped to ACv8.4. Updates are coming soon.

Women in STEM Curriculum links

Reflection on STEM careers

STEM career reflection

To meet more of Snowy Hydro’s women in STEM, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Research project options

Research a historic woman in STEM

After watching the videos showcasing STEM careers, a research project guide is available for students to choose and research a particular person’s contribution to their field.

Research a historic woman in STEM resources

Historic women in STEM Research guide
Research tool – further resources

Make a pitch to name the next Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)

Did you know that our TBMs are named after significant women in STEM?

With research templates to suit different research styles, use these to research a woman in STEM and make a pitch to have a Tunnel Boring Machine named after them!

To learn more about our TBMs you can view the Going Underground resource.

‘Name the next TBM’ research templates

TBM naming research – written format
TBM naming research – table format
TBM naming research – mind map format

Get to know our Snowy STEM Women

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Snowy 2.0

Snowy 2.0

In this Module, learn how Snowy 2.0 will play a major role in offering stability in the Australian Energy Market by providing on-demand energy and large scale storage capacity. It will link two existing reservoirs, Tantanagara and Talbingo. At periods of high demand, Snowy 2.0 will generate electricity using this stored water and when the demand for energy is low the water will be pumped back to the upper dam.

Snowy 2.0 – an introduction

Key information

Learning area: science
Suitable for: year 4 – year 12 classrooms
Topics: technology, engineering, energy
Duration: 2 x 45min lessons
Preparation: links for interactives and knowledge quest sheets provided to students
Materials: not required

Resources

Curriculum links

This unit is currently undergoing a curriculum mapping refresh. Thank you for your patience while this is updated.

Fact sheets

Introduction to Snowy 2.0
Snowy 2.0 by the numbers

Further interactive resources can be found by scrolling. These include an introduction, overview and virtual tour of the scheme.

Snowy 2.0 – The big picture

This digital pop up book opens in a new tab. It provides context to the requirement for building Snowy 2.0 and the impact that it will make on the National Energy Market. This resource contextualises this infrastructure build in terms of economic and societal contributions as well as advancement in engineering and sciences to get this project running.

Student resource

This resource is most suitable for years 4-7

Snowy 2.0 Knowledge Quest activity sheet

Teacher answer key

Knowledge Quest answer key

Snowy 2.0 – Virtual tour

This virtual tour opens in a new tab and can be used to investigate the geography of the Snowy 2.0 scheme and build.

Student resource

This resource is most suitable for years 4-7

Snowy 2.0 virtual tour activity sheet

Teacher answer key

Virtual tour answer key

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Turbines and power generation

Using turbines to generate power

Through our video and learning resources explore how hydro-electricity is generated to produce clean renewable energy. Snowy Hydro has eight power stations comprised of 33 turbines, with a total generating capacity of 4,100 megawatts. Most of the turbines used in the Snowy Scheme are Francis turbines, which are installed vertically.

How turbines create electrical energy from water

For the turbines to generate electrical energy, they need to use energy from the water first. Get excited about energy generation with Kirsten as she chats with Engineering Cadet, Meg and Manager Access & Assurance, Aaron to learn more at Tumut 3 power station about using energy to make energy.

Using energy we have now to create energy later

The Francis turbines in Tumut 3 power station have the widest range of pressure applications and are designed with the capability to generate electricity and to pump water.

Join Dr. Kirsten again with Manager of Planning & Scheduling, Joey and Manager Access & Assurance, Aaron to learn about pumped hydro.

This is similar technology that will be used in Snowy 2.0 to use energy that we have now to move water that can create energy later.

Key information

Learning area: science
Suitable for: year 7 classrooms
Topics: electricity, energy, engineering, physics
Duration: 3 x 45min lessons
Preparation: 5-10 minutes required for hands-on activities’ set up
Materials: household materials required

Resources

Fact sheets

Turbine fact sheet
Power station fact sheet

Activity sheet

Answers to this activity sheet are found in the Turbine fact sheet.

Label the parts of a turbine activity sheet

Hands-on activities

Make a pin-wheel
Pin-wheel shape templates
Create a turbine

Curriculum links

Find below the curriculum links for these resources. Please note that these are mapped to ACv8.4. Updates are coming soon..

Turbines curriculum links

Other video resources

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Moving water through the snowy scheme

Moving water through the snowy scheme

Discover how the rain that falls in the mountains combined with the snow melt is collected, filling up our dams that are used to store the water.  The stored water is then used to generate electricity by running it through our Power Stations. It’s a complicated maze of reservoirs, dams, power stations and rivers that use the simple principle of water flowing downhill. Water that makes its way through the connecting networks (which we call ‘developments’) is then released into the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee River and the Snowy River for irrigation.

Key information

Learning area: science
Suitable for: year 7 classrooms
Topics: water, engineering
Duration: 4 x 45min lessons
Preparation: none
Materials: not required

Resources

Fact sheets

Using the water cycle to generate power
Movement of water through the Snowy Scheme
Moving water in practice: the Snowy-Murray network
Moving water in practice: the Snowy-Tumut network

Activity sheets

Water audit activity

Curriculum links

Find below the curriculum links for these resources. Please note that these are mapped to ACv8.4. Updates are coming soon.

Year 5&6 Using and storing water Curriculum links
Year 6&7 – Using and storing water Curriculum links

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