Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Tune In: Local challenges

20 minutes

Find Out: Overcoming challenges together

20 minutes

Take Action: Share the solution

10 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions

Students will:

identify organisations working in their local area to promote the co-existence of people and wildlife
discover the biodiversity requirements for their particular area.

Success criteria

Students can:

explain the objectives of a local organisation, why this is important for biodiversity in their area, and how people can support this organisation.

Tune In: Local challenges

Step 1

Return to and reflect on all of the local environmental groups that were shared in your class expo from the previous lesson. Discuss and record on the whiteboard:

Are there any common challenges for all of these groups?
What are the common solutions these groups identified?

For example, volunteer shortages or a lack of funds might all cause difficulties for the running of these groups and organisations. Many organisations may be trying to address similar environmental challenges (loss of native habitat) and undertake similar activities to achieve this, such as:

tackling weeds so native plants can grow
collecting seeds to supply local native nurseries
replanting native species to boost diversity and habitat
creating wildlife corridors so animals can move between bushland and maintain genetic diversity
installing nest boxes to provide nesting sites where tree hollows are missing
conducting wildlife surveys and monitoring to track plant and animal populations
collecting rubbish to prevent it from entering waterways and the ocean
promoting responsible pet ownership to stop cats and dogs harming wildlife
advocating for government funding to enable large-scale programs like weed and feral animal control.

Step 2

Ask students to reflect on and share what helps them overcome challenges in their own lives. For example, they may write out a plan to change a bad habit or ask someone they trust for help. Reflect that the same principles can work for organisations.

Find Out: Overcoming challenges together

Step 1

As a whole class or in small groups, ask students to choose 1 organisation or project that has a challenge that they would like to tackle. Write this challenge on the whiteboard so that all students are clear on the problem. Explain that you will be creating an action plan to address this challenge.

Step 2

Divide students into groups of 3-4 and ask them to sit in a circle. Provide each student with a piece of paper, and ask them to write 1 idea on how they might address the challenge in the middle of the paper.

Next, pass the paper clockwise. Read the idea on the new piece of paper and build on it by adding more suggestions or details, identifying any blockers to the idea's success, or writing clarifying questions. Continue passing until the paper has been returned to the original student, and hold the paper up so that it can be read by the whole group.

Step 3

Invite students to agree upon an achievable idea by discussing how these blockers could be addressed, and guide students in answering any of the questions that may have been raised.

Step 4

Invite students to write their selected idea out clearly in a sentence at the bottom of the piece of brainwriting paper. For example, if a landcare group is struggling to attract enough volunteers for weeding and planting activities, it could create a promotion campaign to encourage new volunteers. Similarly, if the native plant nursery needs funds to buy essential resources like potting mix and pots, they could create a fundraising activity.

Take Action: Share the solution

Step 1

As a class, read the factsheet. Check understanding by asking for a volunteer to provide a 30-second elevator pitch based on the following idea: Your class would like to have a casual clothes day to raise money for a charity. Encourage the student to introduce the idea, explain why it matters, and finish with a call to action.

Depending on the quality of response, you may like to share this example with students:

Hi everyone! Our class has a great idea, we’d love to hold a casual clothes day at school. Instead of wearing uniforms, everyone can wear their favourite clothes for 1 day. To take part, students bring a gold coin donation. All the money raised will go to [Insert a name of a local conservation group of your choice], helping them continue their important work. It’s fun, easy, and makes a real difference. We hope you’ll support us and join in!

Step 2

Invite students to return to the small groups that generated the idea and create an elevator pitch designed to be delivered to someone from the organisation. The pitch should clearly explain the solution and how it could help overcome the challenge.

Learning support: Provide digital or printed copies of the factsheet for students to reference throughout the activity.

Before finalising, ask each group to check their pitch against a simple success checklist:

Did we introduce the idea clearly?
Did we explain why it matters?
Did we finish with a call to action?
Did we keep it under 30 seconds?

Groups can revise their pitch based on this self-check before moving to Step 3.

Step 3

Invite students to brainstorm ways to share their pitch with others. These could be school community leaders, members of their local community, family, or friends.

Learning extension: If possible, support students in sharing their pitches by recording them and sending them to the organisation. Otherwise, deliver the pitches to the rest of the class or other members of the school community.

Reflection

Step 1

In their groups, ask students to discuss:

How will their idea influence the characteristics of areas near where they live?
What impact will it have on biodiversity (the number of different types of plants and animals that can survive)?

Step 2 (optional)

Collect the responses and write them on a poster to display and celebrate the impact that their ideas can have on the local community.

Local Environmental Challenges

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Summary

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