Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Tune in: Activating prior knowledge about possums

25 minutes

Find out: Explicit teaching about the effect of climate change on possums

20 minutes

Take action: Create a comic strip to communicate scientific knowledge

5 minutes

Reflection

Tune in: Activating prior knowledge about possums

Step 1.

Discuss:

What changes to our environment are we seeing due to climate change?
What animals have been affected by changes to their environments due to climate change? Likely answers may include polar bears, koalas, whales.

Step 2.

Discuss:

Share a fond memory you have of a possum. This could be at the zoo, in the backyard, on holiday, holding one, reading a book from the library.
Are there different species of possum?

Find out: Explicit teaching about the effect of climate change on possums

Step 1.

Watch the following video on ClickView:

Climate Change - Our planet is heating up - ClickView (https://online.clickview.com.au/libraries/videos/51668793/climate-change)

Step 2.

Read the facts about Mountain Pygmy Possums available on the Student Worksheet.

Step 3.

Watch:

Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths (https://vimeo.com/638511323)

Step 4.

Discuss ways humans can help with the challenge of climate change. For example, switching off lights will aid the moths to locate the mountains and using less electricity in our homes helps reduce global warming.

Step 5.

Independently, students may want to conduct some additional research about Mountain Pygmy Possums.

Take action: Create a comic strip to communicate scientific knowledge

Step 1.

Read the Earth Boy comic. This is a UNICEF comic strip finalist entry by Emerson Chong from Malaysia.

Step 2.

Discuss:

How is a comic strip different from other fiction writing styles? Speech balloons are used. A sequential story using panels. Clear drawings accompanied by concise text.
What does the UNICEF comic strip include?

Step 3.

Independently, students will create a comic strip featuring the main character of a mountain pygmy possum which communicates its plight in the face of climate change's impacts on its habitat.

Invite a THINK PAIR SHARE routine for students to gather ideas for their comic strip.

What name might you give your character?
Are there any other characters in your story?
What will the main theme throughout your comic strip be?
How do your characters feel?
What is the moral of your comic strip?

Reflection

Invite some students to share their comics with the class.

Differentiated Learning

Extension -

Watch:

Help us find Bogong Moths - Zoos VIC (https://youtu.be/uilc-bQlx5M)

Provisions for Learning Support - Use the pre-design scaffolding tools on the Comic Book Templates - Possums.

Writing about Climate Change - Comic Strips about Mountain Pygmy Possums

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Summary

Learning intentions:

Students will...

Success criteria:

Students can...

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