Activity Introduction
Quick summary: This lesson incorporates clips from Blue The Film as learning inspiration. In this lesson, students visit a series of sensory touch tables to investigate different waste materials and the properties of these materials. Using their scientific inquiry skills, students record their findings in a data table. They then consider the definition of rubbish and how recycling helps to reduce the amount of waste in our environment. Finally, students learn about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and discuss ways we can help to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans.
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 intention:
- Students understand that there are many different types of rubbish.
- Students recognise that rubbish can cause harm to our oceans and the creatures that live there.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Foundation Science
- Objects are made of materials that have observable properties (ACSSU003)
Year 1 Science
- Everyday materials can be physically changed in a variety of ways (ACSSU018)
Year 2 Science
- Different materials can be combined for a particular purpose (ACSSU031)
Syllabus outcomes: STe-9ME, ST1-12MW.
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, O.I9.
Relevant parts of Foundation Science achievement standards: Students describe the properties and behaviour of familiar objects. They suggest how the environment affects them and other living things. Students share and reflect on observations, and ask and respond to questions about familiar objects and events.
Relevant parts of Year 1 Science achievement standards: Students describe objects and events that they encounter in their everyday lives, and the effects of interacting with materials and objects.
Relevant parts of Year 2 Science achievement standards: Students describe changes to objects, materials and living things. They identify that certain materials and resources have different uses and describe examples of where science is used in people’s daily lives.
Topic: Blue The Film, Ocean Conservation, Water.
Unit of work: Blue The Film: Inquiry – Foundation, Blue The Film: Inquiry – Years 1 & 2.
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: High – oversee activities, lead discussions and use sensory tables.
Resources required: Student worksheet – one copy per student, pens/pencils, device capable of presenting a website to the class, various plastic and rubbish items (shopping bags, juice containers, hard plastic lids, paper, cardboard, small paper boxes, tin foil, cans, plastic cling wrap, wrappers, yogurt containers, etc).
Additional resources:
- Blue website – explore the issues
- Ocean Conservation Digital Library
- Our Oceans Factsheet
- Plastic Pollution Factsheet
- Great Pacific Garbage Patch Factsheet
- More Ocean, Less Plastic – 5 Gyres website
- Take3 website
- Boomerang Alliance website
Keywords: Blue The Film, ocean conservation, rubbish, plastic, Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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.
© Northern Pictures and Cool Australia
Teacher Preparation
