Activity Introduction
Quick summary: This lesson incorporates clips from Blue The Film as learning inspiration. Students will understand the importance of conserving our oceans by exploring the real world problem of by-catch and overfishing. They will mathematically investigate the problem and use data to plot graphs showing how by-catch is influencing the number of marine animals in our oceans. Students will then investigate ways in which the problem can be reduced and fishing practices can be changed.
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 able to plot data on by-catch and investigate what might happen if fishing practices changed.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 8 Mathematics:
- Plot linear relationships on the Cartesian plane with and without the use of digital technologies (ACMNA193)
- Solve linear equations using algebraic and graphical techniques. Verify solutions by substitution (ACMNA194)
Syllabus outcomes: MA4-1WM, MA4-3WM, MA4-11NA.
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.1, OI.6.
Relevant parts of Year 7 Mathematics achievement standards: Students represent transformations in the Cartesian plane. They interpret simple linear representations and model authentic information.
Topic: Blue The Film, Ocean Conservation, Water, Sustainability.
Unit of work: Blue The Film – Mathematics – Year 7 – 10.
Time required: 80 mins +
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – Lead students in discussion.
Resources required: Student Worksheet – one copy per student. Device capable of presenting a clip to the class. Student access to laptops/desktop computers.
Keywords: Blue The Film, ocean conservation, by-catch, sustainable fishing, investigation, algebra, linear relationships
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 
