Project Description
A Sustainable World
Explore how human actions have placed the earth’s resources under immense strain. Learn how we can manage waste and the earth’s life-sustaining resources to build a better future for all. Students discover clean, green energy and engage in generating usable electricity to illuminate lights and run a fan. Let’s work together to make a positive impact in the world!
Level: Suitable for Level 3 to Year 6.
Duration: Available in a 60 or 90 minute format. We recommend a 90 minute format if budget and timetabling constraints allow.
Numbers: Each workshop can cater to a maximum of 30 children. However, smaller groups have better access to equipment and the facilitator.
State: ONLY AVAILABLE IN VIC.
Learning Outcomes
The ozone layer plays an important role in regulating the temperature of the Earth.
Plant growth is affected by temperature and humidity.
Material choices have a huge impact on the world we live in.
Humans can reuse, recycle and reduce.
Materials behave differently when interacting with the environment.
Microplastics have a huge impact on our environment.
Generating energy that lessens the environmental impact.
How clean energy is generated.
Discoveries are constantly being made that can help lessen our environmental impact.
Activities
Students conduct an experiment to model the greenhouse effect. They measure and record changes in temperature over a period of time, then collate and discuss their results. Students gain a clear understanding of the role that the ozone layer plays in regulating the temperature of the Earth.
Students conduct an experiment with biodegradable packaging material to observe how it dissolves and breaks down compared to non-biodegradable packaging.
Demonstration and group discussion about the impact that plastic has on our environment.
Students explore the different ways of generating energy that can reduce the impact on the environment.
Students will learn about clean green energy and see how movement energy can be transformed into other forms of energy.
Students construct and test a hand powered generator to make usable electricity to light up light globes and power fans.
90 minute workshops also include these activities:
Students work in pairs to create a mini greenhouse and seed samples to grow under different conditions. Explore how plant growth is affected by temperature and humidity.
Explore the impact that plastic has on our environment – microplastics.
Victorian Curriculum Links
Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity; electric circuits enable this energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy (VCSSU081)
The interconnection between food production and land and water degradation; shortage of fresh water; competing land uses; and climate change, for Australia and other areas of the world (VCGGK135)
Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (VCSSU100)
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings (VCSIS070)
Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions (VCSSU056)
Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to inform personal and community decisions and to solve problems that directly affect people’s lives (VCSSU073)
The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (VCSSU075)
Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations (VCSIS068)
Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends (VCSIS069)