Activity Introduction

kangaroos-biodiversity-heroQuick summary: This lesson is designed as a tuning in activity. In this activity students work collaboratively to create a big biodiversity book with information they observe, collect, create and record about biodiversity. The book can be used throughout the term or year as an ongoing in-depth project.

Learning goals:

  • Students explore biodiversity.
  • Students build their thinking, questioning, creating and observing skills.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

This lesson can be used with all the learning areas of the Australian Curriculum. Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.  

Time needed: 48+ minutes – can be extended across a term or year.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – facilitate the collection of materials and information for the book, facilitate class discussion.

Resources required: Big blank book, students willing and able to observe, collect, create and record information about biodiversity.

Key words: Biodiversity, book, observe, collect, create, record.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

garden-spider-biodiversity-heroTeacher preparation:

Overarching learning goal: The aim of this activity is to engage student curiosity in biodiversity and to encourage students in rich, high order thinking around this topic. By participating in this activity students will develop their own ideas, build their knowledge, attitudes and values through in-depth learning experiences around biodiversity.

Teacher content information:

Cool Australia Presents Biodiversity from Cool Australia on Vimeo.

Student and classroom organisation:

Step 1. Begin by clarifying student knowledge on biodiversity. Engage students in a class discussion around the following questions:

  • What is biodiversity?
  • Where is biodiversity?
  • How important is biodiversity?
  • What is happening to biodiversity?

Step 2. Using a large blank book, create a big biodiversity book for your class. This should be a collaborative book that all students can contribute to.

In this book record:

  • Signs of biodiversity at your school/home
  • Things you
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