Lesson summary
In this lesson, students will be immersed in and connect with the documentary film 2040, focusing on actions they can take that has positive benefits both now and in the future. Students begin by looking at examples of young people who have taken action for the future through social and environmental projects. They then work as a class or in groups to choose a topic they are concerned about, and design, plan and implement a project to get the community involved in taking action on the topic.
The social action created can be used to engage another class, the whole school or the wider community, if you choose. Following project completion, students will celebrate and reflect on the success of their project and their participation in the project.
This lesson can be used as a stand-alone lesson or can be used to consolidate and extend learning if you have completed any of the other lessons in this unit.
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 they have a role to play in creating the future they want to see
- understand and be able to drive the processes required for planning and executing a social action project
Success criteria:
Students can...
- use their skills and interests to engage their community in conversations and actions for change
- identify an action they want to take for a better future
- follow the processes and steps required for planning and executing a social action project
- participate in group and class discussion
- work collaboratively and independently
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
- Unit of work: 2040 – Integrated Unit – Years 5 & 6
- Time required: 210+ mins. (this time allows students to plan and conduct their social action project)
- 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
- Butcher’s paper and various coloured sticky notes
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Project Planning Tool
- Project Roles, Project Checklist
- S.M.A.R.T. Goals Factsheet
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student
- Sustainability Factsheet (optional)
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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