Schools Tree Day 2023 - Me and My Tree

Australian curriculum (v9.0) content descriptions

Year 2 - English & Science:

Students learn to:

• experiment with and begin to make conscious choices of vocabulary to suit the topic (AC9E2LA09)
• discuss how characters and settings are connected in literature created by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authors and illustrators (AC9E2LE01)
• make and record observations, including informal measurements, using digital tools as appropriate (AC9S2I03)
• write and create texts to communicate observations, findings and ideas, using everyday and scientific vocabulary (AC9S2I06)

Year 3 - English & Science:

Students learn to:

• extend topic-specific and technical vocabulary and know that words can have different meanings in different contexts (AC9E3LA10)
• discuss characters, events and settings in different contexts in literature by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authors and illustrators (AC9E3LE01)
• compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals (AC9S3U01)
• construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns (AC9S3I04)

General capabilities: Literacy, Ethical Understanding

Syllabus outcomes: EN1-VOCAB-01, EN2-VOCAB-01, EN1-CWT-01, EN2-CWT-01 ST1-1WS-S,STe-3LW-ST

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Year 2&3 achievement standards:
Students share ideas, topic knowledge and appreciation of texts when they recount, inform or express an opinion, including details from learnt topics, topics of interest or texts. They create written texts to inform or explain to audiences, relating ideas including relevant details from learnt topics, topics of interest or texts. They classify and compare living things and different life cycles. They communicate ideas and findings for an identified purpose.

• device to share online videos (with sound)
• items for looking closely (e.g. magnifying glasses, cardboard tube telescopes, cameras, rings, hoops)
• Me and My Tree activity sheet, one for each student
• your favourite picture book about a tree (see suggestions in the Teacher Worksheet).

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

• Communication
• Curiosity
• Empathy
• Creativity
• Reflection

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - Teachers will assist with recording students' ideas and explanations. 

Special thanks to:
This lesson is an ideal way for students to engage with Planet Ark’s Schools Tree Day – the largest nature-care event in Australian schools. You and your students will join thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference, fostering a child’s love of nature and creating positive environmental change. So, get growing! It only takes a minute to register for Schools Tree Day.

How to Teach Sustainability With Hope
Quick summary: This course is for both primary and secondary teachers of all subjects, but especially for English, Science, Humanities and Geography teachers who are covering climate change and the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability. In this course, you will find out how to bring hope to challenging, upsetting or worrying topics around sustainability.