Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students consider how the courts interpret legislation, and how these decisions become common law. Students look at the case of then Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley, student Anj Sharma, and Brigidine nun Sister Marie Brigid Arthur, and decide whether the minister was legally responsible for the physical harm climate change might cause young people.
Subjects: Civics and Citizenship
Year Level: Year 8.
Topics: Climate Change, Sustainability.
Teaching Time: 60 minutes
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Climate Change Solutions.
Cool would like to thank the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation for generously supporting the development of these lessons.
21st-century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions: Year 8 Civics and Citizenship:
- How laws are made in Australia through parliaments (statutory law) and through the courts (common law) (ACHCK063).
General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability.
Relevant parts of Year 8 Civics and Citizenship achievement standards: Students explain interconnections within environments and between people and places and explain how they change places and environments. They compare alternative strategies to a geographical challenge, taking into account environmental, economic and social factors.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – Facilitate class discussion, support students in independent work.
Resources required:
- Individual devices capable of accessing the internet (optional)
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
- Writing tools – pen and workbook/lined paper.
Related Professional Development: If you’re interested in learning more about how to approach challenging topics around climate change and sustainability in your classroom through a Hope and Optimism lens, consider our PD course.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
