This unit of work is designed to support student learning preceding and following an excursion experience with Illawarra EEC. Each lesson is approximately an hour in length, comprising of whole class interactive components within the lesson webpage, or worksheets to download and complete.
Students are introduced to a rainforest study that compares differences in the subtropical rainforest of the Illawarra and the tropical forest of Borneo, Indonesia.
They consider how different perceptions of the significance of the rainforests have led to varying management practices in both rainforests, and that we have much to learn from indigenous custodians of the land.
Students will explore which rainforest species of plants they should plant in their local environment to foster further interactions between vegetation, animals and people.
Geography K-6
S2 - The Earth's Environment
A student:
examines features and characteristics of places and environments GE2 - 1
describes the ways people, places and environments interact GE2 - 2
examines differing perceptions about the management of places and environments GE2 - 3
acquires and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry GE2 - 4
How does the environment support the lives of people and other living things?
How do different views about the environment influence approaches to sustainability?
How can people use places and environments more sustainably?
Time - 1 hour
Lesson one introduces different kinds of environments including the relationship between climate, vegetation and living things. Students use Google Earth and hands-on strategies to survey their school environment for different kinds of land use and types of vegetation (trees, shrubs, grass or groundcover). They also complete a group learning activity using different maps of Australia to determine patterns and trends between vegetation, rainfall, temperature, soil and landforms.
Outdoor learning component: Survey of school environment vegetation
Resources needed:
Interactive whiteboard
Lead pencils
Mapping comparison activity worksheet (to work out how many copies of each map you need, divide the class by 6, so if class has 30 students, divide 30 by 6 and make 5 copies of each map) OR, to do this as a whole class activity, look at one map a day using this resource Mapping comparison activity one-map-a-day version
Access to school grounds
School grounds land use survey worksheet (one per student)
Vegetation scavenger hunt - laminated examples and scavenger hunt tackle boxes (or other containers to collect samples of trees, shrubs and grasses)
Set up a 'Question parking lot' to record student questions (see link for information)
Time - 1 hour
Lesson two introduces the types of rainforests that exist in the world before comparing Indonesia in relation to Australia. Students use geographical tools within Google Earth to find comparative data between the two places. They learn features and characteristics of rainforests, discovering the differences that exist between the forests of each region.
Outdoor learning component: Identifying and reflecting on rainforest plants in school environment
Resources needed:
Interactive whiteboard
Lead pencil
Access to school grounds (or just beyond if no rainforest vegetation in school grounds and have permission to leave school grounds)
Time - 1 hour
Lesson three explores the animals that live in Illawarra and Borneo's rainforests. Students first become familiar with common rainforest animals of Illawarra. Students then complete a 'bioblitz' of the fauna in the school environment using 'Seek by iNaturalist' (if can add app to iPads, doesn't require student login or wifi to use) and a bird survey of the school environment to see if any rainforest birds live in their area. They then undertake a research project on an Illawarra rainforest animal of their choice.
Outdoor learning component: Bioblitz and surveying birds in school grounds
Resources needed:
Internet / computer
Worksheet
Either iPad - google slides or blank paper
Time - 1 hour
The aim of this lesson is for students to appreciate that rainforests are vital to our survival. They compete a series of videos, animations and games that explain how rainforests provide for:
the environment: rainwater, oxygen and CO2 absorption
animals: food, water, habitats
humans: food, medicines, furniture, household products
Outdoor learning component: Treasure hunt: auditing school environment (or home environment if completed as a homework task) for rainforest materials / Soundscape of school environment
Resources needed:
Internet/computer
Paper/coloured pencils (or can be done on computer)
Worksheets
Time - 1 hour
In lesson five, students learn that rainforest once covered much of the Illawarra and that only 15% remains after European settlement. Students view historical paintings that depict what the Illawarra rainforest cover was once like. They then complete a series of reading tasks and games to learn about the causes of impact to Illawarra's rainforests over time, including: cedar logging, farming, mining, housing development and introduced pests. Students test their knowledge with an interactive Kahoot challenge.
Outdoor learning component: Walk to local environment that has most rainforest trees and do a sit-spot. Observe how the area has been managed and modified by humans.
Resources needed:
Internet/computer
Access to Kahoot Earth's Environment
Time - 1 hour
In lesson six, students explore a range of sources to identify the reasons for deforestation in Borneo's rainforests, in particular clearing for palm oil. They weigh up the benefits of palm oil whilst also exploring the importance of sustainability.
Outdoor learning component: Extracting oil from fruit or seeds.
Resources needed:
Internet/computer
Fruit / seeds for oil extraction activity
Mortar and pestles for oil extraction activity
Time - 1 hour
In lesson seven, students are introduced to the concept of valuing the environment and that people may value the environment differently, depending on their needs. The lesson outlines 'users's needs' in two scenarios:
- Illawarra (from early settlement to current day)
- Borneo
In each scenario consider the view point of Indigenous people, farmers, commercial industry and tourists) based on what is most important to them.
This lesson also aims to show us how we can learn about protecting environments from the perspectives of indigenous people such as the Dayak in Borneo and the Dharawal in the Illawarra. Students watch a powerful video featuring a Dayak tribe member who explains his connection with the land and how the tribe manages the environment in a sustainable way so that it is protected for future generations. Students also discover sustainable practices from Australian Aboriginal peoples. After reading 'Oola Boola Woo', a Dharawal Dreaming story on the creation of the Five Islands from Mt Keira, students appreciate that Dreaming stories are a cultural feature that help people to respect and protect the environment.
Outdoor learning component: Students sit in a forested area and identify how they value and feel connection to that space. After the sit spot, students draw themselves feeling 'connected' to the environment. This exercise aims to help students understand the deep and spiritual connection Aboriginal and other indigenous peoples have with the land.
Resources needed:
Computer/internet
Paper and pencils for drawing
An area with lots of trees
Time - 2 hours
Students will assess their school playground to choose an area most suitable to regenerate a small pocket of rainforest habitat. They will also use their skills and knowledge from throughout the unit to teach a younger buddy student how to conduct a bird survey to inspire younger students to monitor the impact of this pocket of rainforest.
Resources needed
Google Earth showing school grounds (or another map of school grounds)
School environment
Worksheets
http://www.lesbursill.com/site/PDFs/_Dharawal_4Sep.pdf
https://www.coomaditchie.org.au/dreaming-stories