Bug Hunt: Introducing the Invaders

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

• critical thinking
• curiosity
• digital literacy
• global citizenship
• reflection

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:

Year 9 & 10, Geography

Students learn to

• the effects on environments of human alteration of biomes to produce food, industrial materials and fibres (AC9HG9K02)
• the human-induced changes that challenge the sustainability of places and environments (AC9HG10K01)

Relevant parts of Year 9 & 10 achievement standards: Students explain how peoples’ activities or environmental processes change the characteristics of places. They explain the effects of human activity on environments.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Digital Literacy, Ethical Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability 

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - facilitate class discussion and student observation

UN SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

• Target: 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.

• device capable of displaying audiovisual material
• devices for students to photograph invertebrates
• Factsheet - Invasive Invertebrates
• student devices
• Student Worksheet
• Visual explainer - Invasive Invertebrates

The Invasive Species Council is Australia’s leading advocate for protecting native wildlife and ecosystems from invasive plants, animals, and pathogens. They work to raise awareness, influence policy, and engage communities in practical solutions to prevent and manage invasive species. Invertebrates Australia champions the conservation and appreciation of Australia’s native invertebrates. They provide research, education, and community programs that highlight the vital role these species play in healthy ecosystems and biodiversity.

What Makes a Species ‘Threatened’? Teaching Biodiversity and Species Protection

Quick summary: Learn about biodiversity and threatened species with Ecologist Thomas Nixon. You will learn what biodiversity is and how it is regulated in Australia, and you will look at some specific case studies that show what is being done across the country to protect our unique biodiversity.