AuSSI Ecological Footprint (Primary)

AuSSI Ecological Footprint (Primary)

Lesson 16 of 18 in this unit

  • Primary
  • Year 5 - 6
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Geography
  • Environmental
  • Sustainability
  • ...

Lesson summary

In this activity students learn about the concept of environmental footprints. They will learn how to measure their impact and take steps to reduce their personal footprint. Students make comparisons between the lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples prior to colonisation and the current mainstream, considering the impact of consumerism on environmental footprints.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

  • understand their impact on the Earth.
  • take responsibility for their personal actions.
  • compare the impact on our environment between the past resource use by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples prior to colonisation and our current resource use.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson Plan
Student Worksheet

Lesson details

Curriculum mapping

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Science Year 1:

  • People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE022)

Science Year 2:

  • People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE035)

Geography Year 2:

  • The ways in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples maintain special connections to particular Country/Place (ACHASSK049)

Science Year 3:

  • Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)

Science Year 4:

  • Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)

Geography Year 4:

  • The custodial responsibility Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have for Country/Place, and how this influences views about sustainability (ACHASSK089)
  • The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)
  • Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (ACHASSI081)

Geography Year 5:

  • The influence of people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, on the environmental characteristics of Australian places (ACHASSK112)
  • The environmental and human influences on the location and characteristics of a place and the management of spaces within them (ACHASSK113)

Science Year 5:

  • Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena (ACSHE081)
  • Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE100)
  • Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks (ACSIS086)

Science Year 6:

  • Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and reflects historical and cultural contributions (ACSHE098)
  • Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE100)
  • Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks (ACSIS103)

Cross curriculum priorities:

Sustainability

  • OI.3 – Sustainable patterns of living rely on the interdependence of healthy social, economic and ecological systems.
  • OI.6 – The sustainability of ecological, social and economic systems is achieved through informed individual and community action that values local and global equity and fairness across generations into the future.
  • OI.9 – Sustainable futures result from actions designed to preserve and/or restore the quality and uniqueness of environments.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

  • OI.2 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities maintain a special connection to and responsibility for Country/Place throughout all of Australia.
  • OI.5 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ways of life are uniquely expressed through ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing.

General capabilities
Numeracy, Critical and creative thinking

Syllabus OutcomesGE1-1, GE2-2, GE2-3, GE3-3, GE3-2ST1-11LW, ST1-9ES, ST2-11LW, ST3-4WS, ST3-6PW, ST3-4WS.  

Connecting lessons: All ResourceSmart Schools audits.

Time required: approximately 3 hours

Resources required

  • Magazines and newspapers
  • Student Worksheet

Additional info

This lesson supports schools working towards their ResourceSmart Schools accreditation. By completing this lesson students will gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between our daily activities and the health of our environment. In this way, this lesson will help provide students with a broader context for the audits required when completing the ResourceSmart Schools accreditation.

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  • Primary
  • Foundation
  • Year 1 - 4
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
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