Blue - Do the Maths on Litter

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

• communication
• critical thinking
• initiative
• global citizenship

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 9 Mathematics:

• Solve problems involving direct proportion. Explore the relationship between graphs and equations corresponding to simple rate problems (ACMNA208).

Syllabus outcomes: MA5.2-1WM, MA5.2-2WM, MA5.2-5NA

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Year 9 achievement standards: Students calculate relative frequencies to estimate probabilities.

Unit of work: Blue The Film – Mathematics – Year 7 – 10

Time required: 110 min +

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and lead students in discussion.

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

• Student Worksheet – one copy per student
• Device capable of presenting a clip to the class
• Tape measures or metre rulers – one per group of 2-3 students, chalk or tape - one per group of 2-3 students, calculators – one per student (optional)

Blue is a feature documentary film charting the drastic decline in the health of our oceans. With more than half of all marine life lost and the expansion of the industrialization of the seas, the film sets out the challenges we are facing and the opportunities for positive change. Blue changes the way we think about our liquid world and inspires the audience to action. Find out how to screen or download the film here. Along with the film is an ambitious global campaign to create advocacy and behaviour change through the #oceanguardian movement. To become an ocean guardian, see the website.

How To Teach Sustainability With Hope

Quick summary: This course is for both primary and secondary teachers of all subjects, but especially for English, Science, Humanities and Geography teachers who are covering climate change and the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability.