Shaping Our Future Together:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
We’ve put together a selection of great resources for both Primary and Secondary year levels that align to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and they’re an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. These goals are interlinked and are designed to be a blueprint for us to achieve a better and more sustainable future for us all.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. To learn more about the goals, head to the official UN Sustainable Development Goals page.
Education Resources
We’ve put together a selection of great resources for both Primary and Secondary year levels that align to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Click on each of the goals to reveal more.
UN Goal 1 – No Poverty
End Poverty in all forms, everywhere.
[email protected] – Needs and Wants Collage – Ages 10 to 12
There’s a difference between what we absolutely need and what we want to make our lives a little more enjoyable. Investigate these differences and show others your understanding in an artwork.
Poverty & Inequality in Australia – Years 3 to 6
This unit of work educates students and families about how poverty and inequality exist in Australia and how we can actively reduce the number of people living in poverty and inequality.
The Oasis
– Years 9 & 10
The film aims to raise awareness of youth homelessness, celebrates the resilience of young people experiencing homelessness in Australia and empowers the next generation of young people to take action.
Life After The Oasis
– Years 9 & 10
Ten years and six Prime Ministers later, with social inequality and homelessness worse than ever, Life After the Oasis revisits the original participants, who show how their lives have changed since those fraught times.
UN Goal 2 – Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Love Food? Love Bees!
Years 5 to 10
This unit supports students to inquire into the role of bees in the ecosystem and how they can flourish in their role as pollinators.
2040
– Years 5 to 10
Our 2040 units follow the narrative of the film encouraging students to discover information, identify and solve problems; students then make plans to take action.
UN Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
SugarByHalf
– Foundation to Year 6
The different units help students to identify and understand the science of sugar, its impact on their body and the social and economic influences on their own food choices.
Footy Fit
– Years 3 to 6
These lessons are more than just a workout, kids can learn about how their body works, how to care for their muscles and what they need to do to be fit.
Dying to Live
– Years 7 to 10
The documentary film Dying to Live aims to raise awareness of the social, physical and emotional effects of being on the organ donor waiting list and dispel myths about organ and tissue donation.
UN Goal 4 – Quality Education
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Cool Australia – 1800+ Lessons
Check out the full suite of Cool Australia lessons, with a focus on environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Digital Library
– All Ages
Our curated digital library for learning and research, to help find the information relevant to your teachings.
UN Goal 5 – Gender Equality
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Learn about STEAM/STEM
– Foundation to Year 10
2040
– Years 5 to 10
Our 2040 units follow the narrative of the film encouraging students to discover information, identify and solve problems; students then make plans to take action
The Leadership
– Year 10
AFLW
– Years 9 to 12
This unit has been developed in conjunction with the AFLW in celebration of the advancement of women in sport and the promotion of equal opportunity for all people in all facets of life.
UN Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Learn about Water
– Years 1 to 10
Units of work involving our environment enable your students to immediately apply their learning in the real world giving them greater motivation and opportunities to excel.
Blue: The Film
– Foundation to Year 10
With more than half of all marine life lost and the expansion of the industrialization of the seas, Blue: The Film sets out the challenges, and the opportunities for positive change.
MangroveWatch
– Years 9 to 12
The MangroveWatch program provides tools, methods and training to assist students and the wider community help scientists gather data on the extent and health of Australia’s mangroves and salt marshes.
Un Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Learn about Energy
– Years 1 to 6
Units of work involving our environment enable your students to immediately apply their learning in the real world giving them greater motivation and opportunities to excel.
Earth Hour
– Foundation to Year 10
Earth Hour has joined us to create an extensive curriculum toolkit. Teachers can download lesson plans, digital worksheets, and a host of other resources to teach lessons that will last a lifetime.
2040
– Years 5 to 10
Our 2040 units follow the narrative of the film encouraging students to discover information, identify and solve problems; students then make plans to take action
Un Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Cisco Global Problem Solvers
– Years 3 to 6
The Global Problem Solvers are a team of teenage superheroes taking on our world’s toughest problems. This animated series supports your students through the steps of becoming problem-solving superheroes.
Learn about STEAM/STEM
– Foundation to Year 10
Aspire Generation
– Years 9 & 10
Students will learn about the world of work, as well as to trust themselves and feel confident enough to independently seek their own answers around their future pathways.
Un Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Including Everyone
– Years 1 to 6
These resources give a voice to those with Down syndrome and allow the community to build more understanding and awareness.
The Final Quarter
– Years 5 to 12
Students learn about taking responsibility for their words, actions and attitudes, and the importance of rejecting racism in all its forms.
In My Blood it Runs
– Years 9 & 10
In My Blood It Runs is a documentary from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy faced with the challenge of balancing his upbringing with state education.
Un Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
2040
– Years 5 to 10
Our 2040 units follow the narrative of the film encouraging students to discover information, identify and solve problems, students then make plans to take action
UN Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
MobileMuster
– Years 3 to 6
This unit contains six lessons for Years 3-6 and is designed to increase students’ understanding of e-waste recycling through a series of hands-on activities.
VISY Education
– Foundation to Year 10
Explore the themes of recycling, closing the loop and taking positive action. Students and their ideas will be the focus of the lessons – empowering them to make sustainable choices and take action through knowledge.
UN Goal 13 – Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Climate, IPCC Report & real-world solutions – Yrs 3-10
Learn the latest research-based information on the state of the climate and how they can apply their learning in the real world to solve the world’s most pressing problem.
Earth Hour
– Foundation to Year 10
Earth Hour has joined us to create an extensive curriculum toolkit. Teachers can download lesson plans, digital worksheets, and a host of other resources to teach lessons that will last a lifetime.
2040
– Years 5 to 10
Our 2040 units follow the narrative of the film encouraging students to discover information, identify and solve problems, students then make plans to take action
Wild Things
– Years 8 to 10
Guide students through key events in the history of the environmental movement in Australia, and support students in raising their own voices for an environmental issue that is important to them.
UN Goal 14 – Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Blue: The Film
– Foundation to Year 10
With more than half of all marine life lost and the expansion of the industrialization of the seas, Blue: The Film sets out the challenges, and the opportunities for positive change.
Take 3
– Foundation to Year 10
In this series of lessons for Upper Primary and Secondary students, we look at how individual, community and global actions impact our waterways.
Un Goal 15 – Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Roots and Shoots
– Foundation to Year 6
Roots & Shoots is a global network of young people taking action to improve our world. It is a youth-led action program that is currently making a difference in over 50 countries.
Love Food? Love Bees!
Years 5 & 6
This unit supports students to inquire into the role of bees in the ecosystem and how they can flourish in their role as pollinators.
Citizen Science
Years 7 to 10
Students use the ClimateWatch app and website to explore relationships between biodiversity and climate change, and investigate the ways that citizen scientists can contribute to the scientific work on these issues.
Un Goal 16 – Climate Action
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Stories of Our Rights and Freedoms – Years 5 to 10
The following units explore the rights and freedoms of citizens and how Australians can actively and responsibly participate in their democracy.
IMAGI-NATION{TV}
– Years 5 & 6
This series of lessons pulls together interviews, conversations and activities to stretch youngsters beyond the everyday and design an exciting new world.
Our Stories
– Years 9 & 10
Students will be guided through a series of scenarios based on the real experiences of a range of refugees living in Australia.
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