Lesson summary

In this lesson, students will explore the big challenges facing our world, such as climate change caused by the release of carbon and the abundance of waste. They will note the interconnectedness of people, animals and nature and consider the impact of the choices that all people make. Students will then focus on the context of plastic as an example of the devastating effect the choices people make can have on both animals and the environment, as well as our own future generations. They will explore how plastic is formed, what we use it for and where it goes once we have finished with it.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

understand that people, animals and the environment are interconnected
identify major environmental and sustainability issues facing the world

Success criteria:

Students can...

explain the relationships between people, animals and the environment
explain the impact of choices people make on human life, animals and the environment
explain at least three challenges facing people, animals and/or the environment
identify issues related to plastic production and consumption
propose ideas for how to reduce negative consequences related to plastic

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson details

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 3 Science:

Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships (ACSHE050)
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)

Year 4 Science:

Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (ACSSU073)
Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (ACSSU074)
Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity (ACSSU075)
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)

Year 5 Science:

Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (ACSSU043)
Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE083)

Year 6 Science:

The growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment (ACSSU094)
Changes to materials can be reversible or irreversible (ACSSU095)

Year 3 HASS:

Pose questions to investigate people, events, places and issues (ACHASSI052)
Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (ACHASSI053)
Draw simple conclusions based on analysis of information and data (ACHASSI058)
Interact with others with respect to share points of view (ACHASSI059)
Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (ACHASSI060)
Why people participate within communities and how students can actively participate and contribute (ACHASSK072)

Year 4 HASS:

Year 5 HASS:

Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI102)
Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI104)
The influence of people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, on the environmental characteristics of Australian places (ACHASSK112)
The environmental and human influences on the location and characteristics of a place and the management of spaces within them (ACHASSK113)
The difference between needs and wants and why choices need to be made about how limited resources are used (ACHASSK119)
Types of resources (natural, human, capital) and the ways societies use them to satisfy the needs and wants of present and future generations (ACHASSK120)
Influences on consumer choices and methods that can be used to help make informed personal consumer and financial choices (ACHASSK121)

Year 6 HASS:

Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI130)
Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI132)
The effect that consumer and financial decisions can have on the individual, the broader community and the environment (ACHASSK150)

NESA and VCAA: Click here for NESA and VCAA curriculum links for this lesson.

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Science achievement standards:

Year 3 – Students use their understanding of the movement of Earth, materials and the behaviour of heat to suggest explanations for everyday observations. They group living things based on observable features and distinguish them from non-living things. They describe how they can use science investigations to respond to questions.

Year 4 – Students apply the observable properties of materials to explain how objects and materials can be used. They discuss how natural processes and human activity cause changes to Earth’s surface. They describe relationships that assist the survival of living things and sequence key stages in the life cycle of a plant or animal. They identify when science is used to understand the effect of their actions.

Year 5 – They analyse how the form of living things enables them to function in their environments. Students discuss how scientific developments have affected people’s lives, help us solve problems and how science knowledge develops from many people’s contributions.

Year 6 – They explain how natural events cause rapid change to Earth’s surface. They describe and predict the effect of environmental changes on individual living things. Students explain how scientific knowledge helps us to solve problems and inform decisions and identify historical and cultural contributions.

Relevant parts of HASS achievement standards:

Year 3 – They explain how and why people participate in and contribute to their communities. They examine information to identify a point of view and interpret data to identify and describe simple distributions. They draw simple conclusions and share their views on an issue.

Year 4 – Students recognise the significance of events in bringing about change and the importance of the environment. Students identify the interconnections between components of the environment and between people and the environment. They locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations to answer these questions. They share their points of view, respecting the views of others. They reflect on their learning to propose action in response to an issue or challenge, and identify the possible effects of their proposed action.

Year 5 – Students describe the significance of people and events/developments in bringing about change. They identify and describe the interconnections between people and the human and environmental characteristics of places, and between components of environments. They identify the effects of these interconnections on the characteristics of places and environments. They recognise that choices need to be made when allocating resources. They describe factors that influence their choices as consumers and identify strategies that can be used to inform these choices. They describe different views on how to respond to an issue or challenge.

Year 6 – They explain how natural events cause rapid change to Earth’s surface. They describe and predict the effect of environmental changes on individual living things. Students explain how scientific knowledge helps us to solve problems and inform decisions and identify historical and cultural contributions.

Unit of work: Roots and Shoots – Upper Primary

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – content explored as a class, students activity involves summarising and reflecting on content covered

Communication
Collaboration
Community engagement
Creativity
Critical thinking
Empathy
Ethical understanding
Problem solving

This lesson has been developed in partnership with Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program. Roots & Shoots is a global youth-led program of young people taking action to improve our world. By participating in this lesson, you and your students will be joining thousands of young people and teachers working to make positive change in our world.

Roots & Shoots - Animals, People & Environment

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