Activity Introduction
Quick summary: In this social action lesson, students will become ocean guardians by taking action around the issue of plastic in the ocean. They will engage in an abridged version of the design thinking process to create their own turtle-friendly lunchbox. Students will work together to brainstorm ideas, then design their turtle-friendly lunch box that does not contain any throw away plastic. Students will then share this action with their families and encourage them to make change to their own lunch containers.
Blue is a feature documentary film charting the drastic decline in the health of our oceans. With more than half of all marine life lost and the expansion of the industrialization of the seas, the film sets out the challenges we are facing and the opportunities for positive change. Blue changes the way we think about our liquid world and inspires the audience to action. Find out how to screen or download the film here. Along with the film is an ambitious global campaign to create advocacy and behaviour change through the #oceanguardian movement. To become an ocean guardian, see the website.
Learning intentions:
- Students will be introduced to social action.
- Students will understand that they can contribute to something bigger than themselves.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Foundation HASS
- Interpret data and information displayed in pictures and texts and on maps (ACHASSI007)
- Draw simple conclusions based on discussions, observations and information displayed in pictures and texts and on maps (ACHASSI008)
- Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI009)
Year 1 HASS
- Interpret data and information displayed in pictures and texts and on maps (ACHASSI024)
- Draw simple conclusions based on discussions, observations and information displayed in pictures and texts and on maps (ACHASSI025)
- Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI026)
Year 2 HASS
- Interpret data and information displayed in pictures and texts and on maps (ACHASSI040)
- Draw simple conclusions based on discussions, observations and information displayed in pictures and texts and on maps (ACHASSI041)
- Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI042)
Foundation English
- Deliver short oral presentations to peers (ACELY1647)
Year 1 English
- Make short presentations using some introduced text structures and language, for example opening statements (ACELY1657)
Year 2 English
- Identify the audience of imaginative, informative and persuasive texts (ACELY1668)
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, OI.3, OI.6.
Relevant parts of Year F-2 achievement standards:
- HASS Foundation: Students reflect on their learning to suggest ways they can care for a familiar place.
- HASS Year 1: Students reflect on their learning to suggest ways they can care for places.
- HASS Year 2: Students reflect on their learning to suggest ways to care for places and sites of significance.
- English Foundation: In informal group and whole class settings, students communicate clearly.
- English Year 1: They create short texts for a small range of purposes.
- English Year 2: They use a variety of strategies to engage in group and class discussions and make presentations.
Topic: Blue The Film, Ocean Conservation.
Unit of work: Blue The Film: Inquiry – Foundation, Blue The Film: Inquiry – Years 1 & 2.
Time required: 120 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – lead students in discussion and class activities, oversee group work.
Resources required: Student Worksheet – one copy per student. Device capable of presenting a website and video to the class. A Turtle’s Life presentation. A3 paper and textas. Cling wrap, freezer bag, baking paper, small plastic containers, paper straws and bamboo cutlery (examples of wrapping and containers used in lunch boxes could be collected from your colleagues’ lunch boxes). Turtle-Friendly Lunchbox template.
Keywords: Blue The Film, ocean conservation, turtles, throw away plastic.
Cool Australia and Northern Pictures would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of GoodPitch² Australia, Shark Island Institute, Documentary Australia Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation and Screen Australia in the development of these teaching resources.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
© 2017 Northern Pictures and Cool Australia
Teacher preparation
