There are four (4) Units in this course. Learners will complete all four Units. Each Unit will be given approximately equal delivery time. The order in which Units and their topics (noted as dot points below) are delivered is not mandated. In some cases Units/topics might be delivered concurrently (e.g. safety and use of personal protective equipment (Unit 1) might be learnt within the context of safe use of chemicals and equipment (Unit 2) and/or safety when working with animals (Unit 3)). Similarly topics in Unit 4 may be explored within the context of studies undertaken in Units 2 and 3.
UNIT 1: Sustainability and resource management
- natural and constructed resources
- renewable and non-renewable resources
- resource use
- recycling
- causes and effects of pollution
- safety and use of personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, shoes, overalls).
UNIT 2: Plant care
- plant use
- plants and the environment
- growing and propagating plants
- garden maintenance
- safe use of chemicals and equipment.
UNIT 3: Animal care
- native animals
- domestic animals
- animal rescue and sanctuary
- laws about animal care
- looking after animals and related agencies (e.g. animal hospitals, veterinary clinics)
- farming and animals related to production
- safety when working with animals.
UNIT 4: Ecosystems: relationships between plants and animal
- ecosystems as communities of living things including: producers, consumers and decomposers simple food chains in at least two different environments/ecosystems
- simple food chains in at least two different environments/ecosystems
- throughout their lives some plants and animals rely on another living thing to survive; examine some simple examples of symbiosis
- relationships between plants and animals in at least two different environments/ecosystems (e.g. river/creek, floodplain, coastal, farm, alpine, backyard)
- case studies of ecosystem management actioned by groups/organisations to conserve and/or improve an ecosystem habitat
- the importance of careful management of natural environments.
NOTATION ON EVIDENCE OF LEARNING
Some of the criteria standard elements (see below) use the terms ‘identify’ or ‘describe’.
In the context of this preliminary level course, ‘identification’ might be done via methods such as:
- correctly selecting from a given list
- correctly selecting from a set of images
- correctly naming from memory or after consulting a source such as the internet.
‘Selecting’ might be done by methods such as: pointing; nodding; circling with a pen; or matching (e.g. picture with corresponding name card).
In the context of this preliminary level course, ‘describing’ might be done via methods such as:
- an oral description
- a written description (e.g. a word list of characteristics)
- a series of actions
- a series of images with simple written notations.