Sustainability & Biodiversity Learning Resource (Yr 5 & 6)
Zane Osborn
Assistant Principal
Provides an overview of a new, open source learning resource on sustainability and biodiversity.
The unit of work shared here is a culmination of many individuals, groups and communities connecting and working together in order to make the places we live and learn better for the future. And therein lies the starting point for this story. The children of Hamilton Public School were eager citizens who regularly fund raise for causes related to sustainability, like endangered animals but they reached a point where they wanted to do more than just have an out of uniform day and donate the money to the cause. This aligned nicely with curriculum, in the sense that we could use a broad concept of sustainability to teach syllabus content and skills like writing, conducting a fair test, investigating the work of geographers or making art. The unit is the result of all these experiences and if nothing else is a model of how curriculum from across Key Learning Area’s (KLA) can be brought together to not only compliment learning but make our future brighter.
I can by no way claim credit for this unit, like anything in teaching it is an amalgamation of people and programs and things I probably cannot even remember but each contributing factor, large or small, has etched some kind of lasting effect into my subconscious. The unit is also not designed to be a cookie cutter program that you can just pick up and apply to your classroom tomorrow. The unit is a guide for how to embed sustainability across a variety of KLA’s. Please take the time to make it relevant to your school and your community. Student input in the direction of their learning is a leap of faith but one that will make the learning relevant, long lasting and drive deep engagement. I ask anyone who uses the unit to take it, shape it, improve it and share it!
– Zane Osborne
THINK GLOBAL | ACT LOCAL
Welcome to this engaging learning resource designed specifically for Year 5 and Year 6 students. This unit encourages students to think globally about the environment, society, and economy while acting locally, with a unique focus on the incredible biodiversity found in Australia.
Science and Geography Exploration
The unit begins by immersing students in the work of scientists and geographers, with a special emphasis on Australian biodiversity. They’ll understand its importance to our planet’s health and learn about the crucial balance that exists between various ecosystems. This exploration aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Life Below Water and Life on Land, encouraging students to make connections between local Australian environments and the broader global context.
Threatened & Endangered Species Study
Students will engage in a focused study of Australia’s threatened and endangered animal species. They’ll choose one species to research in depth, uncovering its unique habitat, the threats it faces, and its role within Australia’s ecosystem. This promotes not only biological understanding but also a sense of responsibility and empathy towards our native wildlife.
Art-Based Awareness Campaign
The unit culminates in a creative, visual art campaign. Students will apply their newfound knowledge to raise awareness about their chosen Australian species within their local community. This fun project encourages effective communication about environmental issues and challenges students to make a difference in their own backyards.
The “Think Global, Act Local” unit aims to not only inform students about Australian environmental issues, but to inspire them to actively participate in their communities. Our goal is to foster a deep connection to the unique Australian environment and motivate students to contribute to a sustainable future for our precious native species.
Sustainability & Biodiversity Learning Resource
Sustainability & Biodiversity Learning Resource
CC BY-NC-SA Creative Commons
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. CC BY-NC-SA includes the following elements:
BY: credit must be given to the creator (theBeats.org and Zane Osborn)
NC: Only non-commercial uses of the work are permitted.
SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this unit a student:
Science and Technology
ST3-1WS-S: Plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions.
ST3-3DP-T: Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions.
ST3-4LW-S: Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things.
Geography
GE3-1: Describes the diverse features and characteristics of places and environments.
GE3-2: Explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments.
GE3-3: Compares and contrasts influences on the management of places and environments.
GE3-4: Acquires, processes and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry.
Creative and Performing Arts
VA3.1: Investigates subject matter in an attempt to represent likenesses of things in the world.
VA3.2: Makes artworks for different audiences assembling materials in a variety of ways.
English
EN3-OLC-0: Communicates to wide audiences with social and cultural awareness, by interacting and presenting, and by analysing and evaluating for understanding.
EN3-CWT-01: Plans, creates and revises written texts for multiple purposes and audiences through selection of text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language.