Lesson summary
In this lesson, students will be immersed in, and connect with, the documentary film 2040, focusing on the topic of energy. Students begin by clarifying key terms around energy before participating in a group jigsaw activity to investigate different types of energy. They then explore a case study about local energy production from the documentary before creating a scientific poster to communicate their own ideas for local energy. Finally, students reflect on their learning by considering the question; “What is your energy 2040?”
We’ve taken elements of this lesson and adapted them for remote learning. You can find this activity here.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand that there are different types of energy sources
- understand that different types of energy have different environmental impacts
- understand that solutions to the environmental problems associated with energy production already exist
Success criteria:
Students can...
- work collaboratively and independently
- contribute to group discussions
- create a scientific poster
- undertake research
- think critically and creatively about current environmental issues
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
- Unit of work: 2040 – Integrated Unit – Years 5 & 6
- Time required: 120 mins
- Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and facilitate class discussions
To view our Australian Curriculum alignment, click here.
To view our NZ Curriculum alignment, click here.
Resources required
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class.
- One copy of each of the following (one per group):
Additional info
2040 is an innovative feature documentary that looks to the future, but is vitally important NOW! Director Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream.
In Australia: Order the Schools Version of the 2040 DVD. The Schools Version includes an educational license and is for Australian primary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host free on-site screenings for the school community.
In New Zealand: Order the Schools Version of the 2040 DVD. The Schools Version includes an educational license and is for New Zealand primary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host free on-site screenings for the school community.
If you are teaching in either New Zealand or Australia, you can now organise a virtual screening of the film for your class. To enquire about this option, simply email schools@whatsyour2040.com and the 2040 team will help you set this up! If you have already bought a DVD of the film and you have a ClickView account, you can email the team for permission to upload the film to your account to make it more easily accessible for your teachers and students.
Cool.org, GoodThing Productions and Regen Pictures would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of Good Pitch Australia, Shark Island Institute, Documentary Australia Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation and our philanthropic partners in the development of these teaching resources.
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