Through a number of thought-provoking learning experiences in Term 2, students in Years 1, 2 and 5 have expanded their environmental awareness, exploring issues such as pollution, endangered species, adaptation and interconnectedness as part of their Sharing the Planet Unit of Inquiry.

At our St Peters Campus, Year 1 and 2 students began the term engaging with provocation boxes from Nature Ed, which sparked their curiosity for what was to come. Soon after, they hosted some cute creatures when Animals Anonymous visited and brought with them a variety of Australian animals, which helped students to understand what these creatures need to survive, what their characteristics are, what sort of habitat they live in and more.

To explore the environmental impact of pollution, Year 1 and 2 students looked at animals and ecosystems affected, working with Mrs Molloy from the Concordia Campus library to use virtual reality headsets to embark on a virtual exploration of the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. This culminated in the generation of ideas for sustainable alternatives to plastic.

On Thursday 8 June, St John’s Campus Year 5 students enjoyed a workshop with current Concordia parent Ben Hyde. Having worked on the development and implementation of biodiversity plans for the Australian Government, Ben was well placed to share a wealth of information about endangered species threatened by loss of habitat, feral animals, agricultural chemicals and climate change. Students then filmed presentations about organisms they had chosen to study and created infographics showing our connected responsibilities.

Throughout these learning experiences, our Primary School students were empowered with information to help learn to share the planet in a responsible way.