The Bush Fire Crisis
In 2019, record-breaking temperatures and months of severe drought fuelled a series of massive bush fires across Australia - many of which are still burning now.
Tragically lives have been lost, and more than 10 million hectares of bush, forest and parks across Australia has burned.
Click HERE for a range resources you can use with your classes.
Lots of resources have been developed by Eco Innovators, in partnership with DATTA Vic, for teachers. We have gathered these, and other great Sustainability resources for you to use in the classroom.
Animations
It's the Little Things
This is your Life Cycle
Life Pscycle-ology
The World's Largest Lesson - Global Goals
The United Nations have set 17 sustainable development goals to transform our world by 2030. The World's Largest Lesson website introduces these goals to children and young people, and includes a wealth of lesson plans, project ideas and printable posters for the classroom - many of them suitable for Design & Technologies. A Fantastic resource!
7 Ways Schools Can Support Student Action on Climate Change
This great resource from Monash University offers a practical framework on sustainable living that can be used in classrooms and as the foundation of a whole-school approach.
What is Eco Design
A3 sized posters that outline sustainability issues and questions - great for use with Years 9-12 students in their product design process (can be printed A4 size)
What is EcoDesign? - posters |  |
Intro to Sustainability |  |
Resources available for sale through DATTA Vic - purchase form here
Designers on Sustainability interviews - DVD 4 designers interviewed, explaining their decision making on sustainability issues - great for VCE PD&T, but also good for Years 9-10 |  |
Design Play Cards A pack of cards that describe design problems, strategies abd inspirations - can be used in a range of game activites for Years 7-12 |  |
The Good Design Guide Visually exciting non-linear book for students to explore Sustainable Design issues and strategies - Years 7-12 |  |
| Resources developed by Eco Innovators, with DATTA Vic |  |
Free access a broad range of educator's resources:
- Secondary student fact sheets - about a range of Sustainability issues and strategies, with discussions, case studies and web links
- Sustainability presentation - PowerPoint slides that outline Sustainability issues. Includes background teacher information
- Design Case Studies - a presentation that includes images and information about sustaianbility case studies, with direct links for further investigation
- Design Play Cards download - make your own Design Play Cards (fee applies)
This initiative from Sustainability Victoria has a range of resources for schools, encouraging our students to 'reduce, re-use and recycle'
ABC Splash
Click HERE for a wide range of sustainability resources for schools from the ABC
Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainability
Click HERE for a radio broadcast from the ABC on Indigenous perspectives on sustainability, particularly related to land management
Yarra Healing - Sacred Land
This Inquiry Unit for Years 5 & 6 looks at the sustainable practices of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander nations.
Cool Australia
This website (registration required but free to sign up) has a great range of resources on Sustainability and Technologies, including:
- Alternative vehicle Technologies (Year 9)
- Planned Obsolescence (Years 7 & 8)
- Creative Sustainability - Designing Places (Years 5 & 6)
- Creative Sustainability - The Colours of Waste (Years F-2)
Practical Action |  |
A wide range of excellent teaching and learning resources can also be found at Practical Action (a UK sustainability organisation). Includes:
- Sustainability starter activities
- 6Rs and Sustainability terms
- Design briefs and activities for Design and Technology areas
- Evaluation tools - for students to evaluate the sustainability level of products (existing and their product designs)
- Excellent Design and Technology sustainability publications that can be purchased on-line
- Sustainable companies - links to UK companies that use sustainable practices in design and production
Design for Change
Design for Change is the largest global movement of children driving change in their communnities using design. Click HERE for some great inspirational stories and fresh ideas for classroom projects!