Think Global Act Local
Elements of Sustainability
Rationale
Learning about the natural world, and how we are changing it, motivates us to live sustainably.
Investigation Into
- Environmental, economic and social sustainability.
- Mapping and the work of geographers.
- Building weather instruments and using them to collect data.
- Using tables and graphs to record weather data.
- Severe weather and natural disasters.
Essential Questions
- What causes natural disasters?
- How do geographers and scientists study the environment?
- How do meteorologists collect weather data and why is this important?
- How does the environment influence how people live, work and play?
Future Action
Your students will consider their actions on the sustainability of their world. They will understand how scientific and geographic thinking can impact on sustainable practices. Your students will understand how Meteorologists collect and record weather data. They will develop a curiosity about other countries and identify themselves as global citizens.
Pretesting and Familiarisation
The Concept Of Sustainability
Your students will consider the concept of sustainability in terms of environment, society and economy.
Your students will consider the concept of sustainability in terms of environment, society and economy.
Pretest
Your students will complete a pretest about geographers, maps, and sustainability.
Your students will complete a pretest about geographers, maps, and sustainability.
Immersion
Your students will be immersed into the the collection of weather data as they collate the latest observations from around Australia.
Your students will be immersed into the the collection of weather data as they collate the latest observations from around Australia.
Introducing The Unit
Your students will learn what they are going to do during this unit.
Your students will learn what they are going to do during this unit.
Habit of Mind: Thinking Interdependently
Your students will learn about the Habit of Mind 'Thinking Interdependently'.
Your students will learn about the Habit of Mind 'Thinking Interdependently'.
Habit of Mind: Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
Your students will learn about the Habit of Mind of 'Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations'.
Your students will learn about the Habit of Mind of 'Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations'.
Glossary About Sustainability
Your students will learn the glossary for this learning sequence.
Your students will learn the glossary for this learning sequence.
Learning Opportunities
Building Our Weather Station
Your students will work as a group to build instruments for their weather station.
Your students will work as a group to build instruments for their weather station.
Predicting Weather Data
Your students will learn about predictions as they record the week-long forecast made by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Your students will learn about predictions as they record the week-long forecast made by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Collecting Weather Data
Your students will use a map to decide where the best location for a weather station is in their school and begin collecting weather data.
Your students will use a map to decide where the best location for a weather station is in their school and begin collecting weather data.
Extreme Weather And Disasters: Preparing Presentation
Your students will learn about extreme weather and disasters in Australia as they prepare a presentation about how to plan for a natural disaster.
Your students will learn about extreme weather and disasters in Australia as they prepare a presentation about how to plan for a natural disaster.
Extreme Weather And Disasters: Delivering Presentation
Your students will deliver a presentation about how to plan for a disaster.
Your students will deliver a presentation about how to plan for a disaster.
Analysing Weather Data
Your students will practise thinking and acting like a meteorologist as they describe patterns that they notice in the weather data.
Your students will practise thinking and acting like a meteorologist as they describe patterns that they notice in the weather data.
Producing Food In Australia
Your students are going to learn how food is produced in Australia.
Your students are going to learn how food is produced in Australia.
Analysing Maps
Your students will learn about the different types of maps used by geographers.
Your students will learn about the different types of maps used by geographers.
Changing Environments Over Time
Your students will consider changes to the environment over time.
Your students will consider changes to the environment over time.
The Survival Of Living Things
Your students will conduct an experiment to work out the conditions that yeast needs to survive.
Your students will conduct an experiment to work out the conditions that yeast needs to survive.
Adapting To The Environment
Your students will consider how plants and animals have adapted to live in a desert climate.
Your students will consider how plants and animals have adapted to live in a desert climate.
Cost Of Living
Your students will consider the cost of living in different parts of the world.
Your students will consider the cost of living in different parts of the world.
Travel Expo: Conducting Our Research
Your students will choose a country and allocate research responsibilities for the Travel Expo.
Your students will choose a country and allocate research responsibilities for the Travel Expo.
Travel Expo: Developing Our Documents
Your students will consider the best way to present the different types of information that they have researched.
Your students will consider the best way to present the different types of information that they have researched.
Travel Expo: Developing An Itinerary
Your students will develop an itinerary for an ideal holiday to their country.
Your students will develop an itinerary for an ideal holiday to their country.
Travel Expo: Preparing Our Stall
Your students will finalise their research and documents for their Travel Expo stall.
Your students will finalise their research and documents for their Travel Expo stall.
Demonstration of Understanding
Travel Expo: Presenting At Expo
Your students will answer questions at the Travel Expo and consider which country they would most like to visit.
Your students will answer questions at the Travel Expo and consider which country they would most like to visit.
Future Action and Independent Inquiry
Future Action
Your students will consider what they would do to prepare for, and what they would do if a natural disaster occurred where they live.
Your students will consider what they would do to prepare for, and what they would do if a natural disaster occurred where they live.
Planning An Independent Inquiry
Your students will plan an inquiry into an aspect of this unit that they would like to learn more about.
Your students will plan an inquiry into an aspect of this unit that they would like to learn more about.
Conducting An Independent Inquiry
Your students will practise the skills of questioning, research and working independently as they conduct an inquiry into a topic that they have learnt about during this unit.
Your students will practise the skills of questioning, research and working independently as they conduct an inquiry into a topic that they have learnt about during this unit.