Change Makers
Introduction to Year 6’s new learning theme
“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi
Year 6 were recently introduced to the Sustainable Development Goals; 17 possible steps that anyone can take to make a positive difference to our planet, as part of their entry point for Term 1B.
En-masse, Year 6 gathered in the Primary Hall to become ‘experts’ in one of these goals. In small groups of peers from other classes the children read, discussed and made notes about the goal they were given. There were gasps of disbelief about the number of people who continue to live without clean water, enthusiasm about the rise of renewable energy consumption and recognition of the impact small changes can have on Earth. The children were then able to share their new knowledge with others and debate which of the goals were the most important to our planet.
Their conclusion: all of them are important, all of them are achievable.
Following this group learning, the children found out more about an individual who has made a difference: Malala Yousafzai. Year 6 students found out that Malala, despite then being only a little older than themselves, had worked towards several of the Sustainable Development Goals by standing up for her right to education, gender equality and peace.
This experience provide the catalyst for Year 6’s new learning theme – Change Makers. Throughout this unit, the children will be learning about different people who have made significant contributions to our planet and be inspired about ways they, too, can be the change they want to see in the world.
In doing so, our students showed themselves to be curious about the world they live in and considered how they can be kind to our planet and the people who live it.
