Lesson summary
In this lesson, students will be immersed in and connect with the documentary film 2040, focusing on the topic of transport. Students begin by interviewing their peers about why we use transport and then work collaboratively to suggest the different types of transport we use. They then look at what types of transport might be available in the future and work in groups to generate ideas for future sustainable transport options.
Students select one idea to develop and create an annotated sketch of this idea to share with the class through a gallery walk.
To expand on and further embed student learning in this activity, consider following up with Taking Action For Your 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 some of the ways we need and use transport
- understand that we should be trying to seek out more sustainable transport options, both now and in the future
Success criteria:
Students can...
- conduct short interviews
- assess the sustainability of some transport options
- generate design ideas using criteria
- work independently and collaboratively
- participate in class and group discussion
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
- Unit of work: 2040 – Integrated Unit – Years 5 & 6.
- Time required: 60+ 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.
- A device capable of presenting a video to the class.
- Interview Factsheet – Optional.
- 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.
Welcome back!
Don't have an account yet?
Log in with:
Create your free Cool.org account.
Many of our resources are free, with an option to upgrade to Cool+ for premium content.
Already have an account?
Sign up with:
By signing up you accept Cool.org's Terms and Conditions(Opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy(Opens in new tab).