MentorClass: Tree Talks

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

• collaboration
• communication
• community engagement
• cultural understanding
• curiosity
• digital literacy
• intercultural understanding

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description: 

Year 7 and 8, Science

Students learn to 

• investigate how cultural perspectives and world views influence the development of scientific knowledge (AC9H7H02, AC9S8H02)

Year 9 and 10, Science

• examine how the values and needs of society influence the focus of scientific research (AC9S9H04, AC9S10H04)

Relevant parts of Year 7 and 8 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how different factors influence the development of and lead to changes in scientific knowledge.

Relevant parts of Year 9 and 10 Science achievement standards: Students analyse the different ways in which science and society are interconnected.

NSW Syllabus outcomes:

Stage 4

A student

• describes the role, structure and function of a range of living systems and their components (SC4-LIV-01).

Stage 5

A student

• analyses the impact of human activity on the natural world (SC5-ENV-01)

General capabilities: Digital Literacy, Intercultural Understanding, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability 

Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Sustainability

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - The purpose of these workshops is for mentees to lead the learning. However, they will need your help to facilitate discussion and coordinate activities! Extensive preparation is required for this workshop.

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

• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

General resources for the lesson - 

• Local knowledge holders and tree planting factsheet
• Value cards

For tree-planting:

• Buckets for soil
• Camera or smartphone for documentation
• Compost or fertiliser
• Gloves
• Labels or tags
• Measuring tape or rulers
• Mulch
• Rakes and trowels
• Shovels or spades
• Soil testing kit (optional)
• Sunscreen and hats (optional)
• Tree guards or stakes
• Tree seedlings or saplings
• Water bottles (optional)
• Watering cans or buckets

This workshop has been developed in partnership with AIME as part of their Mentorclass program. AIME emerged from the vision of a Bunjalung Aboriginal person, Jack Manning Bancroft, intent on bridging the divides that perpetuate inequality. AIME’s journey reflects a commitment to crafting healthier networks for all life on Earth, especially for young generations, where mentoring, imagination, and custodianship are key!

These workshops empower mentees to see the world differently, imagine new possibilities, and recognise their potential to lead and create change. Mentors are not here to teach in the traditional sense but to guide, support and learn alongside their mentees, fostering a partnership based on growth and mutual respect.

Mentor Training Using the 18 Core Values

Quick summary: This course is designed to empower educators to explore the impact of mentorship by learning about AIME’s 18 core values. You’ll learn how to connect with young people in a way that transforms your school into a vibrant hub of mentorship, where every student and teacher is enabled to reach their full potential.