Calling for Change

Task Outline for Assessment in English

Your task is to create a campaign for change based on an environmental issue in your local area. Your campaign strategy should contain:

1. A formal letter to a person or people in a position of authority, such as the Shire, local Member of Parliament, or a business owner.

2. A print or social media campaign combining images or videos with text to target an audience within the community, such as farmers, business owners, or young people.

You will need to demonstrate:

• Your ability to select and adapt language to suit specific purposes and audiences.

• Your understanding of conventions of formal letters.

• Your use of conventions from your choice of print or digital media outlet, such as Facebook, Instagram, local newspaper or newsletter.

Task Outline for Assessment in Science

Your task is to effectively communicate knowledge of an environmental issue discussed during the Learning on Country program. You will need to select relevant information from your notes and refine it to initiate action on the issue. You will need to demonstrate: • Understanding of environmental factors contributing to a particular issue. • Understanding of a relevant ecosystem and its constituent parts. • Effective communication of your scientific knowledge in an infographic or multimodal campaign.

Learning Sequence

• Introduce the task and distribute task sheet/s.

• Distribute the examples of environmental campaigns. In groups, have students evaluate which campaign is most effective, and state two reasons for their argument. Together, create a list of ideas for an effective campaign.

• Use this list as a prompt to revise persuasive devices. Depending on class experience, you may like to distribute and/or study the Persuasive Techniques table (TOOLBOX)

• Prepare a 4-column table on the whiteboard to brainstorm environmental issues, possible actions, changemakers (who has the power to act on the issue), and strategies for instigating change. As a class, complete the table with details relevant to your observations during Learning on Country and your local area. See example below.

• Discuss ideas and strategies with the class. Evaluate which strategies are likely to be successful in initiating the change you would like to see. Discuss how the changemakers you have identified are audiences, who we will need to target and engage in different ways. Refine ideas and plan for students to create their persuasive campaigns.

• Allow time for students to draft their letter and design their campaign. Work with them throughout and provide opportunities for peer and teacher feedback, as well as self-reflection.

• Provide devices for students to complete good copies of their campaigns. Discuss next steps, such as sending letters or publishing campaigns.