Purposeful Plants - Stage 4

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Investigate a range of native plants and their adaptations whilst discovering the latest scientific conservation and ecosystem research happening within our Australian Institute of Botanical Science. First Nations will provide an Indigenous perspective on living with, and from, the native bushland and explain the different uses of these plants as foods, medicines and raw materials for tools and weapons.

Learning Activities

Students will learn how features of some Australian plants are adaptations for survival in their environment
They will also discuss how the observations and understanding of the structure, function and life cycles of native plants are used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Students also research how the knowledge of physical properties of natural materials is used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in everyday life

More information

Explore native plants and their adaptations in the Garden setting.
Compare the structural features of different plants and learn about how these allow them to survive in a variety of Australian environments.
Learn about the features and properties of these plants that make them useful to the First Australians.
Record observations, including diagrams, and draw conclusions about similar/different adaptive strategies.

Focus Syllabus Outcomes

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Appreciates the importance of science in their lives and the role of scientific inquiry in increasing understanding of the world around them (SC4-1VA)
Follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types, collaboratively and individually (SC4-6WS6)
Processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions (SC4-7WS7.1)
Relates the structure and function of living things to their classification, survival and reproduction (SC4-14LW)

Living World - Additional content
Discuss how the observations and understanding of the structure, function and life cycles of native plants are used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Physical World - Additional content
Describe the scientific principles used in some traditional technologies used and developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Chemical World - Additional content
Research how a knowledge of physical properties of natural materials is used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in everyday life, e.g. tools, weapons, utensils, shelter, housing or bush medicine

ABORIGINAL STUDIES

Describes the factors that contribute to an Aboriginal person’s identity (5.1)
Explains ways in which Aboriginal Peoples maintain their identity (5.2)
Describes the dynamic nature of Aboriginal cultures (5.3)
Analyses the interaction of the wider Australian community with Aboriginal Peoples and cultures (5.8)

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Sustainable Development Goals

Through our education programs we aim to
•   ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning (SDG 4)
•   demonstrate actions that work towards making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11)
•   inform and empower students to preserve our forests and halt biodiversity loss (SDG 15)

Through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals we promote prosperity for the whole community, while protecting our planet for future generations.