Sustainability is a recurring topic around the globe. Living sustainably can have positive impacts on the environment and reduce global warming. The Australian Curriculums Cross Curriculum Priorities (CCPS) can be used to teach students about sustainability.
Year level: year 7
Subject: Science
Content descriptor: AC9S7H03, Examine how proposed scientific responses to contemporary issues may impact on society and explore ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations
CCP: Sustainability- World views are formed by experiences at personal, local, national and global levels, and are linked to individual, community, business and political actions for sustainability.
General capabilities: intercultural understanding- reflecting of culture and cultural identity.
I have designed an assessment activity that allows year 7 students to create and make a 3-dimensional sustainable house. The students will use a variety of resources to make their house and then discuss how their house is sustainable and can create renewable energy. This task allows students to research different types of renewable energies and different ways houses can be built to be sustainable. These houses may be built out of cardboard, paddle pop sticks, recycled plastics and any other craft resources. The students will need to discuss each feature they have added to their house and what material it is made from. They will then need to explain how that feature is sustainable and how it can be implemented into new Australian homes. The students will explain if their house has a positive effect on the environment. The students will consider how their house may not be universally built and will discuss how they can change their design to suit different cultures, countries and climates.
By making this assessment activity, I can implement the project- based learning (PBL) pedagogy into my classroom. I teach students the base knowledge that they can independently extend upon in their research. I would introduce students to types of renewable energy sources that they can include in their model and discussion. The PBL pedagogy aims to allow students to learn by doing a project and to investigate and respond to an authentic and complex question (Buck Institute for Education, 2023).
Reference List:
ACARA. (2024). F-10 Curriculum: Science Year 7- Content Descriptors. V9 Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from, https://v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/learning-areas/science/year-7?view=quick&detailed-content-descriptions=0&hide-ccp=0&hide-gc=0&side-by-side=1&strands-start-index=0
Buck Institute for Education. (2019). PBLWorks. Pblworks.org. Retrieved from,
https://www.pblworks.org/
