What is Eco-Anxiety and Why Do We Feel It?

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

• adaptability
• critical thinking
• cultural understanding
• empathy
• ethical understanding
• global citizenship
• reflection

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description: 

Year 7, Geography

Students learn: 

• the cultural connectedness of people to places and how this influences their identity, sense of belonging and perceptions of a place, in particular the cultural connectedness of First Nations Australians to Country/Place (AC9HG7K07).

Year 8, Geography

Student learn:

• the spiritual, aesthetic and cultural value of landscapes and landforms for people, including Country/Place for First Nations Australians (AC9HG8K03).

Relevant parts of Year 7 achievement standards: Students explain the interconnections between people and places and environments, and describe how these interconnections change places or environments.

Relevant parts of Year 8 achievement standards: Students explain how the characteristics of places are perceived and valued differently by people.

NSW Syllabus outcomes:

A student:

• explains the processes and interactions that change people, places and environments (GE4-PRI-01)
• explains Aboriginal Peoples’ Custodianship, care and management of Country (GE4-APC-01).

Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Sustainability.

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

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – teachers will present information, moderate discussion, and assist with station activities as necessary.

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.

• Activity sheet - Station activities
• Butcher paper
• Device capable of displaying audiovisual material
• Student devices
• Sticky notes
• Student Worksheet 
• Markers
• Whiteboard

Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership program aims to turn the tide on eco-anxiety and create the next generation of leaders. They aim to address this by providing free expert-led workshops to high schools, TAFEs and universities. Students will gain insights from relatable young leaders who are actively making a difference and have extensive experience inspiring students. An initiative by Surfers for Climate & The Good Human Factory.

Students, Schools and Eco-Anxiety: Teaching and Learning for Eco-Optimism 

Quick Summary: This course will provide insight into the findings from a global review of climate change education with a focus on eco-anxiety an unanticipated consequence.