Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students begin by exploring environmental activism. Students explore some key events in the environmental movement in Australia, as presented in the documentary Wild Things. They then explore what activism is and why people feel compelled to stand up for the environment.
Wild Things follows a new generation of environmental activists that are mobilising against forces more powerful than themselves and saying: enough. Following a year in the footsteps of School Strike 4 Climate, Stop Adani and Save The Tarkine Rainforest, interwoven with a look at historical campaigns, this film is set to show that every action counts and individuals can make a difference. Access the film here.
The lessons in this unit use the Wild Things documentary to guide students through the environmental movement in Australia, and support students in raising their own voices for an environmental issue that is important to them. We recommend this lesson is used as the second lesson in a sequence of learning within this unit.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand some of the key events in the environmental movement in Australia, both historically and in the present
- Students understand why some people choose to become environmental activists.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 8 Civics and Citizenship
- The freedoms that enable active participation in Australia’s democracy within the bounds of law, including freedom of speech, association, assembly, religion and movement (ACHCK061)
Year 8 Geography
- Human causes and effects of landscape degradation (ACHGK051)
- Ways of protecting significant landscapes (ACHGK052)
- Present findings, arguments and ideas in a range of communication forms selected to suit a particular audience and purpose; using geographical terminology and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS061)
Year 9 Geography
- The effects of the production and consumption of goods on places and environments throughout the world and including a country from North-East Asia (ACHGK068)
- Present findings, arguments and explanations in a range of appropriate communication forms, selected for their effectiveness and to suit audience and purpose; using relevant geographical terminology, and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS070)
Year 10 Geography
- Human-induced environmental changes that challenge sustainability (ACHGK070)
- Environmental world views of people and their implications for environmental management (ACHGK071)
- Present findings, arguments and explanations in a range of appropriate communication forms, selected for their effectiveness and to suit audience and purpose; using relevant geographical terminology, and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS079)
Syllabus outcomes: GE4-2, GE4-3, GE4-5, GE4-7, GE4-8, GE5-2, GE5-3, GE5-4, GE5-8.
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.8, OI.9.
Relevant parts of Year 8 Civics and Citizenship achievement standards: Students explain features of Australia’s democracy that enable active participation.
Relevant parts of Year 8 Geography achievement standards: Students explain interconnections within environments and between people and places and explain how they change places and environments. They compare alternative strategies to a geographical challenge, taking into account environmental, economic and social factors. Students present findings, arguments and ideas using relevant geographical terminology and digital technologies in a range of appropriate communication forms.
Relevant parts of Year 9 Geography achievement standards: They analyse interconnections between people, places and environments and explain how these interconnections influence people, and change places and environments. Students synthesise data and information to draw reasoned conclusions. They present findings, arguments and explanations using relevant geographical terminology and digital representations in a range of appropriate communication forms.
Relevant parts of Year 10 Geography achievement standards: Students identify, analyse and explain significant interconnections between people, places and environments and explain changes that result from these interconnections and their consequences. They analyse and synthesise data and other information to draw reasoned conclusions, taking into account alternative perspectives.
Topic: Sustainability.
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Wild Things Years 8 to 10.
Time required: 90 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion, lead students in activities.
Resources required:
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Keywords: activism, environment, sustainability, forests, fossil fuels, climate change.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
This lesson has been developed with the support of 360 Degree Films and the Garry White Foundation.
