Spread the Word: Koalas Need Biodiversity

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

• critical thinking
• global citizenship
• problem-solving

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:

Year 6 Biological Sciences:

• investigate the physical conditions of a habitat and analyse how the growth and survival of living things is affected by changing physical conditions (AC9S6U01)
• investigate how scientific knowledge is used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions (AC9S6H02)

Relevant parts of Year 6 achievement standards: Students can explain how changes in physical conditions affect living things and can describe how individuals and communities use scientific knowledge.

NSW Syllabus outcomes: ST3-4LW-S

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability 

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 15.5: 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.

• Device to share media with students
• Student devices - 1 per group for research
• Student worksheet - 1 per student

This lesson has been created in partnership with WWF-Australia and made possible thanks to its proud supporter, Australia Post.

In 2022, koalas on Australia’s east coast were officially listed as an endangered species after dramatic population decline. Habitat destruction, climate change and extreme weather events, including bushfires and floods, have had a significant impact on koalas.

As one of Australia’s most trusted conservation organisations, WWF is working tirelessly to turn this tragedy around, with Australia Post joining them in their mission to double koala numbers across eastern Australia by 2050.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High - direct instruction and facilitating student research.

Meet the NQS by Caring for the Environment

Education and care settings are places where children learn about self, others and the world. National Quality Standard (NQS) Element 3.2.3 requires every early childhood service to care for the environment and support children to become environmentally responsible.