Inland to Ocean is a Schools Package designed for teachers and students in the the Northern Agricultural Region, with the purpose of helping kids to help the environment.
This package is aimed at Years 4 – 6, fits in with the emerging Australian curriculum, and covers Coastal, Indigenous, Biodiversity, Hydrology, Climate Change, and Sustainability issues. Students are encouraged through project-based and inquiry learning to engage with their local environment.
Each chapter contains information about the topic, activities, interactive hands-on learning tasks, and testimonials from teachers and students who have utilised the package within their school.
How does Inland to Ocean align with the Australian Curriculum?
The recent move to the Australian Curriculum has set up the expectation that schools will focus on sustainability. This package shows links with documents such as the Sustainability Curriculum Framework and the Sustainable Schools WA. It demonstrates the integrated nature of the cross curricular priorities and shows how the activities and big ideas in the package support the General Capabilities outlined in the Australian Curriculum. There are three cross-curricular priorities in the Australian Curriculum:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
- Sustainability
Schools are encouraged to incorporate sustainability into all areas of learning and for this learning to be integrated and cross-curricular.
The Inland to Ocean project is split into six separate categories. These categories include:
How to use Inland to Ocean
The Inland to Ocean package is designed specifically for teachers and students in the NAR of Western Australia, however many aspects can be used, or adapted for use across Australia. It is designed to be used in a variety of ways, to suit the particular needs and situations of different classes, teachers and schools. Some teachers will choose just one or two of the projects and use them with the whole class. Others will want the students to design their own program, in consultation with the teacher. A Project Record Sheet has been provided for students and teachers to record the work that is being completed (see page 18). This Project Record Sheet also integrates with various aspects of the Australian Curriculum. Resources for each section have been recommended to save teachers time and to ensure that they feel confident with the content.