Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students examine what a good leader in emergencies looks like. They have the opportunity to confirm or debunk their predictions when meeting such a member of the community.

Subjects: English.

Year Level: 6.

Teaching Time: 120 minutes.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Resilient Australia: Building Resilience To Natural Disasters – Primary.

Related Professional Development: We encourage you to undertake the free PD Course How to teach a unit on fire and flood resilience for tips on how to best deliver this lesson.

If you’re concerned about the challenging nature of these topics, consider the free PD Course How to approach trauma in the classroom for information on how best to support your students.

21st-century skills: 

CommunicatingCommunity EngagementLeadershipSocial Skills

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions: 

Year 6 Geography:

  • Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, places, systems and challenges (ACHASSI122)
  • Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary sources and secondary sources (ACHASSI123)
  • The contribution of individuals and groups to the development of Australian society since Federation (ACHASSK137)

Relevant parts of Year 6 Geography achievement standards: Students explain the significance of an event/development, an individual and/or group. Students develop appropriate questions to frame an investigation. They locate and collect useful data and information from primary and secondary sources.

Syllabus outcomes: GE3-4.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion and scaffold work for some students.

Resources required:

  • Device capable of presenting a video to the class
  • Individual writing materials

Keywords: Australia, climate, flood, bushfire, prepared, communities, emergency services, leadership, traits, firefighters, interview, communication

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher Preparation

Learning intentions: Students will ...

  • … learn which skills and traits are required of an individual in order to be a useful and resilient leader in an emergency.

Success criteria: Students can …

  • … compile a list of traits and skills they associate with leaders.
  • … interview a leader.

Teacher content information:

Handling sensitive topics:

While presenting the lesson, you may notice that students could develop heightened emotions as you uncover the physical and psychological effects of hazards and disasters. Resilience, rebuilding and hope are essential learnings from the lessons. Therefore, it is vital to create a psychologically safe place for students to discuss and debrief, should they need to. The tasks can be activating for some students and could trigger old memories that some students may find challenging to revisit or process. You should direct students to a school counsellor if they require additional support and read through the Handl

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