Educational resources
The following educational resources can support teaching and learning within the AuSSI framework. Further resources are also available through the state and territory AuSSI websites, which can be accessed through the interactive map.
General sustainability
- Living Greener is a website providing information, assistance and ideas to help individuals and organisations live and work more sustainably.
www.livinggreener.gov.au - Think+share+act = change The Green Lane Diary is free and curriculum linked. Running in Term 3, students receive a student diary full of positive stories about living sustainably and keep their own record. Register for copies at www.greenlanediary.org.au
Energy
- Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency education pages provide a variety of resources for teachers and students including teaching resources, fact sheets and interactive quizzes.
www.climatechange.gov.au/what-you-can-do/teachers-and-students.aspx - Future Sparks is a fun and empowering look at a future with clean energy aimed at 8-13year olds. Jam packed with resources, videos, links, games and lesson plans. Make a video and be a part of the competition. www.futuresparks.org.au
Climate change
- Carbon Kids is a CSIRO educational program that helps primary and secondary school communities better understand climate change and encourages positive actions for sustainability. The website includes educational and curriculum resources.
www.csiro.au/resources/CarbonKids.html - Bureau of Meteorology students and teachers website provides subject specific experiments and activities for teachers and students, lesson plans, worksheets, interactive models, brochures, access to borrowing a weather kit and more.
www.bom.gov.au/lam/Students_Teachers/learnact.htm - Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency education pages provide a variety of resources for teachers and students including teaching resources, fact sheets and interactive quizzes.
www.climatechange.gov.au/what-you-can-do/community/schools.aspx
Waste
- Living Greener's Reduce waste website provides information about how we create waste and the variety of ways we can reduce, re-use and recycle.
www.livinggreener.gov.au/waste - Green Waste Matters is an Australian Government guide to green and organic waste management for schools. www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications/waste/go.html
Water
- Australian Water Education Toolkit is an Australian Government web portal providing a search tool and access to hundreds of water education resources.
www.environment.gov.au/wet - Discovering wetlands in Australia - A Primary classroom resource
www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/classroom-kit.html - Exploring Our Wetlands is an interactive online teaching resource about wetlands, with a focus on Queensland but applicable elsewhere.
www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/explore/index.html - Waterwatch Australia is a national community water quality monitoring network that encourages all Australians to become active in the protection of their waterways.
www.waterwatch.org.au
Biodiversity
The Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities provides a range of educational resources, including the following:
- Classroom Antarctica is an online teaching resource aimed at Years 5 to 8.
www.classroom.antarctica.gov.au - Reef Education is a portal of resources about the Great Barrier Reef.
www.reefed.edu.au/home/students - Marine species teachers and students site provides information about dolphins, porpoises and whales, teaching units, interactive online activities for students and access to recorded whale songs.
www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/cetaceans/education - Weeds in Australia is a website providing resources, interactive games, competitions and ideas for hands on activities for kids about weeds in Australia.
www.weeds.gov.au/help/kids.html - Green Kids Guide to Threatened Species: 9 Ways You Can Help.
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/kids.html - The Australian National Botanic Gardens offers an array of hands-on engagement and educational experiences
www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/education
Heritage
- World Heritage Education Program features Australia's World Heritage places and is designed for students in Years 5 to 10.
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/education
Transport
- Living Greener's Travel smarter website provides information about ways to reduce our reliance on cars and give ourselves and the environment a breath of fresh air.
www.livinggreener.gov.au/travel
Health and wellbeing
- Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program provides food education for children. The program develops lifelong skills in the kitchen and garden and encourages children to enjoy all the benefits of growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing.
www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/kgp.shtml
Spirituality and values
- Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has a Values Education website.
www.curriculum.edu.au/values/ - On Holy Ground is an ecological vision statement for Catholic schools and agencies.
www.onholyground.edu.au
Indigenous knowledge
- 12 Canoes is a website offering a range of short videos which explain the Yolngu (people of North-East Arnhem Land) way of life and connection to country.
www.12canoes.com.au - Australian Screen website, operated by the National Film and Sound Archive, offers a range of documentaries about Indigenous culture, some with teacher's notes.
http://aso.gov.au/education/indigenous/
Teaching and learning
- Educating for a Sustainable Future: A National Environmental Education Statement for Australian Schools (2005).
www.environment.gov.au/education/publications/sustainable-future.html - Sustainability Curriculum Framework is a guide for curriculum writers and policy makers about incorporating sustainability into the curriculum.
www.environment.gov.au/education/publications/curriculum-framework.html - Whole School Approaches to Sustainability: An International Review of Whole Schools Sustainability Programs (2004). Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability.
www.aries.mq.edu.au/projects/whole_school/
Community
- Engaging People in Sustainability comprises case studies of community engagement for sustainability.
www.aries.mq.edu.au/publications/more_by_aries_team/pdf/EngagingPeople.pdf
Sustainable purchasing
- Australian Government environmental purchasing guides and checklists are designed for government, but useful for any organisation.
www.environment.gov.au/sustainability/government/purchasing
Learn more
Students look at sustainable building design.
About AuSSI
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) seeks to support schools and their communities to become sustainable
- AuSSI coordinators
- AuSSI - Fact sheet
- National Environmental Education Statement for Australian Schools