Introduction

= Introduction to Our Environment Unit = __**Aims and Objectives**__ Over the course of this unit it is aimed that students will develop awareness and knowledge of environmental issues that affect our world. Students will be able to distinguish between those environmental issues that occur naturally and those that occur due to the impact of human beings which will be the main focus. Students will discover the impact that they have on the environment and will develop strategies and possible solutions that will potentially help to sustain the environment in which we live in.

Objectively students will develop an understanding of the impact of environmental concepts such as:
 * Climate Change - global warming, green house gases, fossil fuels.
 * Conservation - extinction of animal species, endangered species and poaching.
 * Energy use - conservation of energy, renewable energy and efficient energy use.
 * Pollution - air and water.
 * Waste - littering, recycling and landfill.
 * Resource depletion - consumerism, fishing, logging and mining.
 * Land use - urban sprawl and habitat destruction.
 * Land degradation - land pollution, desertification and erosion.

__**Knowledge**__ Students will gain an understanding of how humans effect the environment in their day to day lives and the process that occurs as a result of their actions. For example leaving the TV on wastes energy which leads to the increased fossil fuels and air pollution which also contributes to the warming of the ozone layer commonly referred to as global warming.


 * __Skills__** that will be further developed through this unit are:
 * Inquiry skills
 * Academic skills
 * Social skills


 * __Values / Attitude / Interest / Sensitivities__ Students are interested in the affects that they have on the environment and are keen to discover ways of reducing their impact on the environment. The students appreciate that not all environmental issues have solutions but realise the importance of all citizens in society doing what they can to assist in sustaining the environment. Students have respect for the environment and realise the severity of environmental issues and the impact that they can have on students lives. The students are sensitive about the possible outcomes if environmental issues such as global warming and pollution continue. **


 * __Social Action__ Students are encouraged to take action on issues that affect our environment through changes that they can make in the classroom and at home. Students will be involved in classroom activities that develop responsible participation such as recycling, reduction of water usage, being energy efficient and putting waste and litter in the bin. A letter will be sent home to parents at the beginning of the unit to let them know that their child will be studying environmental issues and things such as supporting recycling and being energy efficient around the home will greatly contribute to their child's learning in this unit. **

__Focus Question__
What affect do we have on our environment?

Contributing questions: Lesson 1 - What are environmental issues? Lesson 2 - Why are environmental issues important to us? Lesson 3 - Which environmental issues are caused by humans? Lesson 4 - Who is responsible for these issues? Lesson 5 - What is being done to solve these environmental issues? Lesson 6 - What can I do to reduce my impact on the environment? Lesson 7 - How else can we sustain our environment? Lesson 8 - What did I learn from this unit that I didn't know before? How will I use this information to improve our environment?

__Rationale__
The topic for this particular unit on environmental issues was chosen due to the importance of students developing awareness of environmental issues as specified in VELS. Students are required to have an understanding of the environment around them and the affect that they have on their environment and the potential affects the environment can have on them and their lives. Environmental issues is something that affect us all, making our students aware of this and teaching them ways to reduce their impact on the environment is essential in maintaining our earth.

__VELS Humanities Curriculum Framework__
'Our Environment' unit meets Victorian Essential Learning Standards Humanities learning focus statement "Participating in activities such as wearing protection from the sun, saving energy, saving water, and recycling, they develop their awareness of environmental issues." Throughout the unit students participate in a range of activities that promote awareness of environmental issues and the importance of these issues in students lives.

__**Teachers Notes**__
 * [|Environmental Issues - Schools.edna.edu.au]
 * [|Sustainability Education - Educating for a Sustainable Future]
 * Global Education - Global Issues: Environment
 * [|GreenTreks Network - Education Resources]
 * [|Clean up Australia - Teaching Resources]

Additional Resources for this unit can be found on the resources page.

__Integrating This Unit into the Curriculum__
Integrating this unit on environmental issues can be very beneficial to students learning. Multi discipline learning can assist students in developing a deeper understanding and awareness of environmental issues by linking it in with other discipline areas.

Here are a few examples of how you may like to integrate this unit into other curriculum areas.


 * Civics and Citizenship**
 * role of government in solving environmental issues.
 * investigate possible solutions to environmental issues that students and all citizens can take to ensure sustainability of the environment.


 * The Arts**
 * use environmental issues knowledge and understanding can be used as a stimulus for creating a piece of art work. For example you might ask students to construct a picture of one way they can reduce their impact on the environment.
 * The Arts is great for providing opportunities to view situations from others point of view. In developing students understanding of the affects of environmental issues it may be useful to ask them to imagine themselves as somebody living on an island where due to the affects of global warming, the sea level has risen and forced them to leave their homes. Students will realise the severity of environmental issues on not only them but everybody in the world.

**Health and Physical Education**
 * English**
 * developing awareness of environmental issues requires students to use inquiry skills which includes reading, writing, researching, comparing, discussing and reviewing information. Therefore english skills are being used at all times during the course of this inquiry unit.
 * students can be asked to use a variety of multimedia styles to present what they have discovered from the inquiry process on environmental issues.
 * books are a crucial part of this unit and are often a good way of engaging students when introducing a new topic
 * affects that the environment have on health. For example, consequences on health due to air pollution.
 * benefits of exercising on reducing our impact on the environment. Not only does exercise provide health benefits but by walking or riding to school reduces carbon emissions and reduces our impact on the environment.