Activity Introduction

Quick summary: This activity asks students to consider the impacts of pollution on our ocean environments by designing and creating a poster.

We’ve taken elements of this lesson and adapted them for remote learning. You can find this activity here.

Learning goals:

  • Students recognise that rubbish is a big problem for underwater biodiversity.
  • Students understand that we all have a responsibility in preventing rubbish from going into our oceans.

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 3 English:

  • Draw connections between personal experiences and the worlds of texts, and share responses with others (ACELT1596)

Year 3 Science:

  • Represent and communicate ideas and findings in a variety of ways such as diagrams, physical representations and simple reports (ACSIS060)

Year 4 English:

  • Discuss literary experiences with others, sharing responses and expressing a point of view (ACELT1603)

Year 4 Science:

  • Represent and communicate ideas and findings in a variety of ways such as diagrams, physical representations and simple reports (ACSIS071)

Syllabus Outcomes: ST2-4WS, EN2-11D.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability.

Topic: Biodiversity

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – Assist students in creating posters.

Resources required: Art materials.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: Could be completed as homework.

Keywords: Rubbish, pollution, environment, biodiversity, poster. 

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:

Overarching learning goal: Students recognise that rubbish is a big problem for underwater biodiversity and understand that we all have a responsibility in preventing rubbish from going into our oceans.

Teacher content information: Over-fishing is not the only problem threatening the biodiversity of our oceans and rivers.

Pollution caused by litter and toxic waste is also a big problem and creates sick and unhealthy ocean and river environments. Although some of these waste materials are caused by big companies dumping their rubbish where they think it is out of sight, some of it comes from ordinary people like you and me.

When rubbish in our gutters gets caught up in a big rainstorm it can get washed into our rivers and oceans. Even these little bits of rubbish can make a big difference to the health of an ocean or a river.

Student and classroom organisation:

Step 1. Begin this activity by asking students to spend about 10 minutes looking at the Waste Toolbo

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Where does rubbish go when it blows away?

Spend some time looking at the Cool Australia Waste Toolbox. Try to focus on stories or articles that talk about waste in our waterways or oceans. As you look around the Toolbox, fill in the following points:

Three things that you find interesting -

1.

 

2.

 

3.

Three things that you think are having a negative impact on our waterways and oceans -

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

One question about waste in our waterways and oceans that you would like answered -

 

Create a poster or infographic

Using what you have found out about pollution in our waterways and oceans, create a poster or infographic that shows the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy ocean or river. We've included our own example to show you what we mean.

Health-Unhealthy_enlarge

Reflection

Complete the PMI Chart. 

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