Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students investigate the impact of invasive species on Lord Howe Island. They begin by reviewing their prior knowledge of invasive species and how they can impact the environment. Students then look at the major invasive species on Lord Howe Island – rats and mice – and explore the rodent eradication program on the island through a case study analysis. Finally, students create a poster that shares the main details of the eradication program and explores the lessons from the program for other places hoping to remove invasive species. Students who have completed the previous lessons in this unit can scan or photograph their poster and upload it to their Lord Howe Island Library Padlet.
These lessons were made possible with thanks to Joshua Yeldham.
Cool Australia also wishes to recognise Ian Hutton. Ian is a trained biologist, amongst many other skills, and has been living on Lord Howe Island since 1980. He is the author of 11 books on Lord Howe Island, including the most recent 264 page beautiful coffee table book on the World Heritage values of Lord Howe Island, contributed to some 60 papers and articles working with scientists across numerous fields, run a number of conservation and research project, and has been employed as a location guide for film documentary projects. If you are visiting Lord Howe Island, get in touch with Ian for a private guided tour, as he is keen to share his passion for the island and its environment.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand what invasive species are
- Students recognise the impact of invasive species on our environment
- Students understand that programs can be and are being taken to remove the invasive species from Lord Howe Island.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 5 Science
- Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (ACSSU043)
- Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions and solve problems using equipment and materials safely and identifying potential risks (ACSIS086)
- Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (ACSIS093)
Year 5 English
- Use comprehension strategies to analyse information, integrating and linking ideas from a variety of print and digital sources (ACELY1703)
- Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1704)
Year 6 Science
- The growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment (ACSSU094)
- Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions and solve problems using equipment and materials safely and identifying potential risks (ACSIS103)
- Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (ACSIS110)
Year 6 English
- Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media and digital texts (ACELY1713)
- Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1714)
Syllabus outcomes: ST3-4WS, ST3-10LW, ST3-11LW, EN3-2A, EN3-3A.
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.7, OI.9.
Relevant parts of Year 5 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how the form of living things enables them to function in their environments. They communicate their ideas and findings using multimodal texts.
Relevant parts of Year 5 English achievement standards: Students create imaginative, informative and persuasive texts for different purposes and audiences.
Relevant parts of Year 6 Science achievement standards: Students describe and predict the effect of environmental changes on individual living things. They collect, organise and interpret their data and construct multimodal texts to communicate ideas, methods and findings.
Relevant parts of Year 6 English achievement standards: Students create detailed texts elaborating on key ideas for a range of purposes and audiences.
Topic: Biodiversity, Sustainability.
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Lord Howe Island – Years 5 & 6.
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion, oversee poster making activity.
Resources required:
- Lord Howe Island Eradication Program – Case Study
- Poster making materials
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Keywords: Lord Howe Island, invasive species, rodents, rats, mice.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
