Making Connections
Cause and Effect Wheels:
A cause and effect wheel is a diagram created to organise ideas and concepts. The wheel will help students to understand the critical issues for the Great Barrier Reef (e.g. climate change) and the major threats (e.g. coral bleaching).
Begin with a critical issue (the cause) in the middle of the diagram and then form a ring around the critical issue with threats (effects). A further ring can also be added for additional threats or flow on effects. See Diagram 1 for an example of a cause and effect wheel:
Self Reflection:
Create a self-reflection worksheet for students to complete.
Question students on how they would feel if the Great Barrier Reef was no longer healthy? How would they feel if there was no longer a Great Barrier Reef?
Complete the Questions:
Who uses the Great Barrier Reef? |
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How would they be affected if the Great Barrier Reef was no longer healthy or existing as it is today? |
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What is currently being done to ensure the sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef? |
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What can you do at home and at school to help look after the Great Barrier Reef? |
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Taking Action
Write letters to the local and state governments and local newspapers.
Community Education
Students can help increase their local communities’ awareness of sustainability and the Great Barrier Reef by designing a poster, brochure or information sheet. This project should detail the critical issues for the Great Barrier Reef and things that can be done at home, work, school and in the community to help look after it. Display these posters on school notice boards, during school assemblies or in the school library.
Reflecting
Ask the students about some of the things they have learnt during the unit.
Websites and references:
Australia. Department of the Environment and Heritage. (2005). Educating for a Sustainable Future: a National Environmental Education Statement for Australian Schools.
Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. (2009). Living Sustainably: the Australian Government’s National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability.
Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. (2010). Sustainability Curriculum Framework: a guide for curriculum developers and policy makers.
Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
http://www.environment.gov.au/education/
Australian Institute of Marine Science
http://www.aims.gov.au/
Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative
http://www.environment.gov.au/education/aussi/index.html
CRC Reef
http://www.reef.crc.org.au/
CSIRO CARBON KIDS
http://www.csiro.au/resources/CarbonKids-program.html
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Reef Ed - Educate To Keep It Great Program
http://www.reefed.edu.au/
National Solar Schools Program
www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/nationalsolarschools/index.html
On Holy Ground
http://www.onholyground.edu.au/
Queensland Studies Authority
http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/
Reef Guardian Schools program
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