Welcome Parents/Carers
A current article in the
local paper The Alexandra & Eildon
Standard has highlighted the need for the community to get involved in
waste education (Smith, 2019, p.20). This is a great opportunity for K3 students
and families to take up this challenge in our Civics and Citizenship unit. We are exploring the inquiry question
‘How can I actively participate in my community to help life on earth?’
(Smith, 2019)
The students are learning
about their roles and responsibilities of being an active citizen in their
community to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, improving
recycling and minimising resource consumption. Also, the environmental and
economic impacts waste has on the local community and ways to communicate
ideas/solutions to others in the community about waste education.
The purpose behind
getting involved in this community project is to develop skills and knowledge
in how our actions in our local community can help life on earth. By reducing waste,
we can significantly reduce impacts on the local and global environment. Australian
Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (2012) recognises “the role of
civic and political activity in generating more sustainable patterns of living.
Actions to improve sustainability are both individual and collective endeavours
shared across local and global communities” (p.15). Additionally, your child will develop
essential decision-making skills through posing questions, organising
information/ideas and creating systems for a sustainable tomorrow.
The students will develop
their learning by exploring the inquiry question ‘How can I actively participate
in my community to help life on earth?’ This will involve reviewing and
improving our waste management system at school and at home which involves
class discussions, posing questions, research and action. Also, our class will visit
the Murrindindi Resource Recovery Centre, participate in the waste education
activities, complete surveys and explore the roles and responsibilities of the local
council. Brett (2019) explains that “Group enquiry; cooperative and
experiential learning can increase student participation, improve communication
skills, and empower students to become more engaged” (p.3). On conclusion of
this unit the students will create waste management systems and posters that
can be displayed around the school and local environment educating others about
the importance of sustainable waste management.
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(Can Stock Photo Inc, 2019)
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How can parents/cares
support their child’s learning? Get involved, have fun and celebrate your
child’s steps towards becoming an active citizen in reducing the amount of
waste being sent to landfill, improving recycling and making informed decisions
when purchasing products. Activities will be sent home with your child that
educate about what can and can not be recycled and making a compost or worm
farm that can assist in reducing your family’s waste. You could also explore other
recycling avenues about how you can recycle e-waste, soft plastics and
batteries in your area. Most importantly have the conversation about reducing
your household waste and the benefits it has economically and environmentally.
I am excited to introduce
this Civics and Citizenship unit to
your child and family. Any suggestions or questions are warmly welcomed.
Thanking-you
Kim McLachlan
Reference
List
Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting Authority. [ACARA], (2016, December
16).
The Australian Curriculum: Humanities and
Social Science (Version 8.3). All year levels. Retrieved from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/download?view=f10
Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting Authority. (2012). The
Shape of the
Australian Curriculum: Civics and
Citizenship. Retrieved from file:///F:/ESH360%20Week%202/Shape_of_the_Australian_Curriculum__Civics_and_Citizenship_251012.pdf
Brett, P. (2019). Civics and Citizenship, week 2 content.
[Lecture notes]. Retrieved from
Can Stock Photo Inc.
(2019). Angry Cartoon Trash Can Vector.
[Image]. Retrieved from
Smith, T. (2019, February
27). Get involved in waste education.
The Alexandra & Eildon
Standard.
Retrieved from https://alexandranewspapers.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12:read-newspaper-online&catid=2:uncategorised&Itemid=161
Hey Kim, I've read through your Blog. The way in which you have structured your response is very similar to the way in which I've do also. Great minds think a like :P
ReplyDeleteThe school I work at says we should replace education jargon with parent friendly language. Just thinking as the majority of parent come from different educationally backgrounds and by limiting the jargon can allow all parents to be part of their children's education. I love your imagines they are colourful, and creative. The imagine present a strong link towards your written text. I can not wait to read more, it is so engaging.
Hi Kim,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog post. It is really well done and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was very informative in a language that parents will understand, visually pleasing and warm and welcoming for parents or carers to read. It seems like an engaging and rewarding unit for the students to partake in. The activities and excursions planned really align with the aims of the Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences. In particular, critical and creative thinking, problem solving and informed decision making, and responsible and active citizenship. It also enables students to gain an understanding of their roles in regards to sustainability not just locally but globally.
There are a few grammar and spelling mistakes that can be reworded to improve the flow of the writing. Apologies, other than the spelling and grammar suggested above I cannot think of anything else you may need to change or adapt. For further feedback, please see the word document with the review and track changes included, which was emailed to you.