Beyond the Bushfires - Fighting Fire with Fire - Science - Years 9

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students investigate fire management approaches taken in Australia’s Northern Territory. Drawing on research from 20 years of cultural burning and fire management practices in the Northern Territory, students will summarise and communicate the features and outcomes of this approach. By presenting to, and discussing with their peers they will be challenged to consider how these practices can be applied to their own local areas.

In partnership with The Conversation, the Beyond the Bushfires series brings the words of scientists who are actively involved in research and science communication into classrooms throughout Australia. Students will explore evidence-based research embedded in the context of real-world practice.

Additional thanks to the Ian Potter Foundation, John T Reid Charitable Trusts and The Myer Foundation, for generously supporting the development of these lessons.

Learning intentions:

Students will research the outcome of traditional fire management in the Northern Territory
Students will identify the impacts on ecosystems, populations and other social systems
Students will investigate how traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples fire regimes have informed this approach.

21st century skills:

Creative Thinking Critical Thinking Communicating

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 9 Science

Scientific understanding, including models and theories, is contestable and is refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community (ACSHE157)
People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities (ACSHE160)
Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations (ACSIS174)

Syllabus outcomes: SC5-12ES, SC5-9WS, SC5-13ES.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, ICT Capability, Intercultural Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, OI.3, OI.7, OI.9.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how biological systems function and respond to external changes with reference to interdependencies, energy transfers and flows of matter. They evaluate others’ methods and explanations from a scientific perspective and use appropriate language and representations when communicating their findings and ideas to specific audiences.

Topics: Climate Change, The Conversation, Beyond the Bushfires, Sustainability.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Beyond the Bushfires – Secondary.

Time required: 65 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – Supervise student work creating an infographic. Facilitate a sharing session between students once completed.

Resources required:

Access to simple presentation software such as PowerPoint or Photoshop
Access to a printer or projector
Article – The Conversation – Indigenous innovation could save a billion tonnes of greenhouse gases
Laptops or personal computer access
(Optional) A3 or A2 sized card or paper
(Optional) Coloured pens and markers
(Optional) Coloured card stock

Keywords: bushfires, cultural burning, fire-stick farming

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Learning intentions: Students will...

... research the outcome of traditional fire management in the Northern Territory
... investigate how traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples fire regimes have informed this approach
... identify the impacts on ecosystems, populations and other social systems.

Success criteria: Students can …

… summarise findings from 20 years of traditional fire management
… communicate findings and outcomes from scientific research
... explain ways that traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples fire regimes have informed modern approaches to fire management
... create a poster that communicates effectively using scientific language.

Teacher content information:

Note: Traditional fire management practices have a range of different names, such as cultural burning, cool burning, or traditional fire knowledge. It is important to note that none of these names captures the complexity or

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Student Worksheet

Thought Starter: How can traditional knowledge help us manage the environmental challenges of the present and the future?

Work in your pairs to brainstorm some ideas in response to the following questions:

How could we apply the lessons learned in the Northern Territory in our area?

What might need to change to accommodate your climate, landscape or social circumstances?

What season might be the best suited to this cultural burning in your local area, based on what you know about the local climatic conditions?

Are you aware of any cultural burning practices that are already happening in your local area?

What other bushfire mitigation strategies are you aware of? Are these used in your local area?

What other climate change mitigation strategies are you aware of? Are these used in your local area?

Reflection

Have your thoughts or opinions about the article changed through the course of this lesson? Explain your answer.

Have your thoughts or opinions abo

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Activity: Beyond the Bushfires – Fighting Fire with Fire – Science – Years 9