Beyond the Bushfires - Bushfires And Food Webs

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Years 7 Science:

• Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities, can be represented by food chains and food webs (ACSSU112)
• Summarise data, from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, and use scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions based on evidence (ACSIS130)
• Communicate ideas, findings and evidence-based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS133)

Year 9 Science:

• Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems (ACSSU176)
• Critically analyse the validity of information in primary and secondary sources and evaluate the approaches used to solve problems (ACSIS172)
• Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations (ACSIS174)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-15LW, SC4-7WSSC5-14LW, SC5-7WS, SC5-8WS, SC5-9WS., SC4-9WS

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students predict the effect of human and environmental changes on interactions between organisms. They draw on evidence to support their conclusions and summarise data from different sources. Students communicate their ideas, methods and findings using scientific language and appropriate representations.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how biological systems function and respond to external changes with reference to interdependencies, energy transfers and flows of matter. They use appropriate language and representations when communicating their findings and ideas to specific audiences.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Beyond the Bushfires – Secondary

Time required: 90 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate discussions and lead students in food web activities

• A device capable of presenting a website to the class
• Food web factsheet
• Invasive Animal Images – printed and cut out
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student
• Trophic levels factsheet

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Critical thinking
• Collaboration

In partnership with The Conversation, the Beyond the Bushfires series brings the words of scientists who are actively involved in research and science communication into classrooms throughout Australia. Students will explore evidence-based research embedded in the context of real-world practice.

Additional thanks to the Ian Potter Foundation, John T Reid Charitable Trusts and The Myer Foundation, for generously supporting the development of these lessons.