TEACHER NOTES
This unit encourages students to examine aspects of climate change and the things that schools are doing to become more sustainable. Students are encouraged to think about what factors can affect climate change, to realise that much of what we do is a product of the context in which we find ourselves.
The unit also explores the idea that each of us can learn together how our schools can be part of the global solution to climate change. The things we do, how we think, our ability to adapt and change and our surrounding environment creates the context to help us inspire action at school, at home and in the community.
As the unit progresses, the emphasis shifts to investigating concepts and ideas relating to sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - both within the students immediate classroom and beyond it. Through integrating environmental management into teaching and learning students are encouraged to consider actual conditions experienced by themselves and others, and be part of the process of understanding, documenting and improving the school.
Having explored some of the complexities of climate change in the early part of the unit, students then consider how they might increase sustainability in the classroom or school whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They think about how climate change has been portrayed by others and in turn consider the changes suggested by others as being needed to increase levels of sustainability and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Many of the activities are designed to define an action or project for making a change in the classroom or school. The types of actions that could be undertaken are examined through a number of case studies of schools actively involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and through several structured critical thinking and research activities.
Finally, the students develop an action idea for improved sustainability and reduced greenhouse gas emissions for presentation to others. Students are encouraged to communicate solutions for improved sustainability in the classroom or at school.
The unit also explores the idea that each of us can learn together how our schools can be part of the global solution to climate change. The things we do, how we think, our ability to adapt and change and our surrounding environment creates the context to help us inspire action at school, at home and in the community.
As the unit progresses, the emphasis shifts to investigating concepts and ideas relating to sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - both within the students immediate classroom and beyond it. Through integrating environmental management into teaching and learning students are encouraged to consider actual conditions experienced by themselves and others, and be part of the process of understanding, documenting and improving the school.
Having explored some of the complexities of climate change in the early part of the unit, students then consider how they might increase sustainability in the classroom or school whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They think about how climate change has been portrayed by others and in turn consider the changes suggested by others as being needed to increase levels of sustainability and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Many of the activities are designed to define an action or project for making a change in the classroom or school. The types of actions that could be undertaken are examined through a number of case studies of schools actively involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and through several structured critical thinking and research activities.
Finally, the students develop an action idea for improved sustainability and reduced greenhouse gas emissions for presentation to others. Students are encouraged to communicate solutions for improved sustainability in the classroom or at school.
Year levels
Middle and upper primary
Curriculum focus
In this unit, students:
- Investigate what climate change is
- Assess the current situation at the school
- Investigate concepts and ideas relating to the school’s carbon footprint, climate adaptation and sustainability
- Consider what could change in the school and why
- Generate ideas and explore options for making a change
- Select ideas for an action or project
- Develop an idea for improved sustainability and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and
- Share the idea for improving sustainability, adapting to climate change and reducing the carbon footprint of the school.
