Blue - The Role of the Ocean in the Water Cycle

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 7 Science:

• Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, including water that cycles through the environment, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
• Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (ACSIS125)
• Measure and control variables, select equipment appropriate to the task and collect data with accuracy (ACSIS126)
• Summarise data, from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, and use scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions based on evidence (ACSIS130)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-12ES, SC4-5WS, SC4-6WS, SC4-7WS

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.1

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how the sustainable use of resources depends on the way they are formed and cycled through Earth systems.

Unit of work: Blue The Film – Science – Year 7 & 8

Time required: 110 mins +

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – lead students in discussions and oversee experiment.

• Student Worksheet – one copy per student
• Device capable of presenting a website to the class
• Water Cycle Experiment 1, Water Cycle Experiment 2, Water Cycle Experiment 3, Water Cycle Experiment 4, Water Cycle Experiments – What Happened?
• Communication Piece Assessment Rubric
• Water Cycle Diagram – Blank (optional)

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

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving

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.