Meeting 3 - Sustainability in the Australian Curriculum and Warradale wetland tour
Agenda
- Tour of Warradale Wetland (virtual due to poor weather)
- Sustainability in the Australian Curriculum
- Schools sharing approaches to exploring sustainability; Portside Christian College, St. Joseph’s Hectorville, Galilee Catholic Community
Warradale Wetland Tour
Jan MacFarlane, teacher Librarian, presented 2 video’s about the development of the wetland and discussed the schools journey.
Warradale Wetland Video 1
Warradale Wetland Video 2
Sustainability in the Australian Curriculum
Participants heard from Jonathan Noble (DECD Curriculum Manager EfS) about a range of online resources relating to Australian Curriculum and were given the opportunity to explore some of these resources at a desktop computer.
Australian Curriculum
Jonathan talked the group through the Australian Curriculum page and demonstrated how it is navigated.
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Home
Sustainability organising ideas and elaborations for History, Science, English and Maths http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Sustainability
Scootle
Teachers can search for interactive learning objects that are linked to the Australian Curriculum.
http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/p/home
Sustainable and Attainable
This website supports teachers and students to learn about and take action around sustainability themes. There are also Australian Curriculum related resources. Links to specific relevant items provided below.
http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/
Summary tables of sustainability links in Science, Maths, English and History http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/pages/AC_CCP/
Link to Online School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) resource
http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/pages/SEMP/
Link to DECD fact sheets and policies relating to sustainability
http://www.sustainableschools.sa.edu.au/pages/Fact_sheets/
This Australian Government website has many tips around sustainability (energy, water, waste, transport) for people to try at home. Also has a search tool for identifying grants and rebates available in your local area.
http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/
Primary Connections Scope and Sequence
This table provides a suggested scope and sequence for Primary Connections Science Units delivery in schools. Many of these units have strong links to sustainability.
http://www.science.org.au/primaryconnections/curriculum-resources/#unitplanner
DECD Education for Sustainability (EfS) and South Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI-SA) website
Visit this site to register with AuSSI-SA and to down load the DECD EfS guide.
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/efs/
Backwards by Design
Jonathan also discussed a project that is underway involving a range of SA schools that are developing units of work linked to sustainability and the Australian Curriculum. While the work is not currently available Jonathan mentioned the use of the Backwards by Design or Understanding by Design planning process developed by Wiggins and McTighe (1998). A couple of relevant links are below:
Information about the process from the developers.
http://www.authenticeducation.org/ubd/ubd.lasso
Example from Glenelg Schools of a unit planner using Backwards by Design
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/assessment/files/links/What_helps_us_plan_and_des.pdf
A DECD Assessment Talks newsletter about Backwards by Design planning.
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/assessment/files/pages/newsletter/Let_s_Talk_AssessmentV2I3.pdf
A further Assessment Talks newsletter article looking at student evidence and Backwards by Design planning.
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/assessment/files/pages/newsletter/Let_sTalkAssessmentV2I4.pdf
Portside Christian School
Lee Grigg (Teacher and Environmental Education Coordinator) presented a range of resources she has used to support her schools sustainability journey. She recommended the NRM Education Resource Library. Click here to view our library list.
St. Joseph’s Hectorville
Michael Proctor (Deputy Principal) shared his school’s vision for a sustainable school, which has been developed in consultation with all staff and students at the school. Michael also discussed some of the early steps the site has made to implement this vision. Click here to find out more about what is happening at the school.
Galilee Catholic Learning Community
Paul Johnson shared a short video about his schools inspirational garden. The garden is quite new having been developed since the school’s inception in 2007. Students have had a major input into design and development of the garden which has flourished and providing food for humans and habitat for animals, as well as an intentional space for formal and informal learning of students.