Blue - Marine Protected Areas

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 5 Science:

• Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE083)

Year 6 Science:

• Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE100)

Year 5 HASS:

• Examine different viewpoints on actions, events, issues and phenomena in the past and present (ACHASSI099)

Year 6 HASS:

• Examine different viewpoints on actions, events, issues and phenomena in the past and present (ACHASSI127)

Syllabus outcomes: ST3-7PW.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3.

Relevant parts of Year 5 Science achievement standards: Students discuss how scientific developments have affected people’s lives, help us solve problems and how science knowledge develops from many people’s contributions.

Relevant parts of Year 6 Science achievement standards: Students explain how scientific knowledge helps us to solve problems and inform decisions and identify historical and cultural contributions.

Relevant parts of Year 5 HASS achievement standards: Students describe different views on how to respond to an issue or challenge.

Relevant parts of Year 6 HASS achievement standards: Students identify different perspectives in the past and present. 

Unit of work: Blue The Film: Inquiry – Years 5 & 6.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and lead discussions.

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 website to the class
• Community Profiles
• WWF – Marine Protected Areas – Infographic
• Map of Australia’s Marine Reserves

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

• Communication
• Creativity
• Collaboration
• Critical thinking
• Empathy

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.