Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students will undertake a scientific inquiry to examine the impacts of spending time in nature. They will design, test and conduct an experiment to examine whether nature time affects mental, physical and emotional well-being. Students will communicate their findings through a short video clip that may be shared with the wider community.
Following this lesson is an ideal way for students to participate in Planet Ark’s Schools Tree Day – the largest nature-care event in Australian schools. You and your students will join thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference, fostering a child’s love of nature and creating positive environmental change. So, get growing! It only takes a minute to register for Schools Tree Day.
Learning goals:
- Students develop an understanding of scientific inquiry and how this process extends, clarifies and unites observations and data to develop testable hypotheses and scientific explanations;
- Students gather, record and collate their findings from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources;
- Student draw conclusions on the effects of spending time in nature;
- Students communicate their scientific ideas and findings to the wider public.
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Literacy, ICT.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2., OI.7.
Australian Curriculum content description:
Year 9 Science
- Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS164)
- Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods, including field work and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data; assess risk and address ethical issues associated with these methods (ACSIS165)
- Select and use appropriate equipment, including digital technologies, to systematically and accurately collect and record data (ACSIS166)
- Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies (ACSIS169)
- Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS170)
- Evaluate conclusions, including identifying sources of uncertainty and possible alternative explanations, and describe specific ways to improve the quality of the data (ACSIS171)
- Critically analyse the validity of information in secondary sources and evaluate the approaches used to solve problems (ACSIS172)
- Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations (ACSIS174)
Year 10 Science
- Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS198)
- Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods, including field work and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data; assess risk and address ethical issues associated with these methods (ACSIS199)
- Select and use appropriate equipment, including digital technologies, to systematically and accurately collect and record data (ACSIS200)
- Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies (ACSIS203)
- Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations (ACSIS208)
Syllabus Outcomes: SC5-4WS, SC5-5WS, SC5-6WS, SC5-6WS, SC5-7WS, SC5-8WS, SC5-9WS.
Topic: Schools Tree Day.
Time required: 2 x 60 mins
Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – oversee activity.
Resources required: Internet access, digital cameras/tablets/phones for making films, Student Worksheet – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet.
Digital technology opportunities: Online brainstorming programs (mindmeister or bubbl.us), film making and editing, digital sharing capabilities.
Homework and extension opportunities: Includes opportunities for extension.
Keywords: Nature, Biodiversity, Scientific Method, Hypothesis.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
