Lesson summary
Students will understand how humans influence nature and how our relationship with nature has changed over time. They will view a video from the feature documentary Future Council before learning about different cultural perspectives on this relationship. Students will then design a connection to nature action plan to ignite change in their school community.
Learning intentions
Students will:
- understand the connection between humans and nature
- explore how different cultures view, explore and experience the environment.
Success criteria
Students can:
- explain human-nature interconnectedness with examples
- design an action plan to promote connection to nature.
Lesson guides and printables


Curriculum links
Select your curriculum from the options below.
Lesson details
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- creative thinking
- critical thinking
- communication
- community engagement
- intercultural understanding
Curriculum Mapping
Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description: 5 & 6, HASS
Year 5:
Students learn about
- the influence of people, including First Nations Australians and people in other countries on the characteristics of a place (AC9HS5K04)
Year 6:
Students learn about
- Australia’s interconnections with other countries and how these change people and places (AC9HS6K05)
Relevant parts of Year 5 & 6 achievement standards: Students explain the influence of people on the characteristics of places and in the management of spaces. They explain the geographical diversity of places and the effects of interconnections with other countries.
General capabilities: Ethical Understanding, Personal and Social Capability
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - Facilitate class discussions and activities.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
UN SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- Target: 13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Resources Required
- Activity sheet - Station cards
- Activity sheet - Connection to nature action plan
- Assorted materials - Recycled newspapers, magazines or printouts
- Device capable of displaying audiovisual material
- Student devices
- Student Worksheet
- Sticky notes
- Whiteboard
Additional Info
Future Council is a Regen Studios film co-produced with Tebbernekkel. Cool.org and Regen Studios would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of Shark Island Foundation, LEEAF, Alberts I The Tony Foundation, Documentary Australia and our philanthropic partners in the development of these teaching resources. These lessons have been created in partnership with Regen Studios & Regenerators.
Related Professional Learning
Using the Cool.org Act Framework in the classroom - Primary
Quick Summary: This course will help you provide strategies and tactics for enabling action in order to give students a sense of hope for their futures.
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