Threats to Marine Turtles

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 4 Science:

• Living things have life cycles (ACSSU072)
• Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (ACSSU073)

Year 5 Science:

• Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (ACSSU043)

Year 6 Science:

• The growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment (ACSSU094)

Year 5 HASS – Geography:

• The environmental and human influences on the location and characteristics of a place and the management of spaces within them (ACHASSK113)

Syllabus outcomes: ST3-10LW, ST3-11LW, GE3-2, GE3-3.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, OI.7, OI.9.

Relevant parts of Year 4 Science achievement standards: Students describe relationships that assist the survival of living things and sequence key stages in the life cycle of a plant or animal. 

Relevant parts of Year 5 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how the form of living things enables them to function in their environments.

Relevant parts of Year 6 Science achievement standards: Students describe and predict the effect of environmental changes on individual living things.

Relevant parts of Year 5 HASS – Geography achievement standards: Students identify and describe the interconnections between people and the environmental characteristics of places.

Time required: 120 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee lesson and lead students in class discussions.

• Student Worksheet – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet
• Device capable of presenting a website to the class. 

• Presentation Assessment Rubric
• All About Turtles – Factsheet
• Student workbooks and pen/pencil
• Poster making materials

Turtle Threats factsheets:

• Turtle Threats – Coastal Development
• Turtle Threats – Climate Change
• Turtle Threats – Commercial Fishing
• Turtle Threats – Marine Debris
• Turtle Threats – Predatory Animals
• Turtle Threats – Water Pollution

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

• Collabortion
• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking

This lesson has been developed in partnership with WWF-Australia. WWF-Australia has been working to conserve marine turtles and the habitats they live in. Following this lesson plan is an ideal way for your school to celebrate World Turtle Day on the 23rd of May. Join with other amazing teachers and students around Australia who are taking action to conserve marine turtles.