The Sustainables Challenge - 2008
Schools undertaking the The Sustainables Challenge Project in 2008 have been provided with:
Professional Development
The free Professional Development sessions are designed to provide each participating school with an understanding of The Sustainables Challenge, the accompanying three Units of Work, and how each unit can be used as an integrated approach to VELS.
This year the Professional Development sessions were held during March in Melbourne and Geelong.
CRT expenses covered one teacher from each school attending.
Units of Work
Units of Work have been developed and tested for levels 3, 4 and 5 as integrated units incorporating almost all of the VELS domains. The units predominantly focus on Interpersonal Development and Personal Learning, Civics and Citizenship, Mathematics and Science, Design, Creativity and Technology, ICT and Thinking.
The Units of Work are based on an authentic learning experience of researching, creating, designing and presenting a communications package (action-research project) for students, schools, homes and communities to join The Sustainables Household Challenge (see www.dse.vic.gov.au/thesustainables).
The Units of Work have been designed to introduce sustainability education into the school but will complement current sustainability education themes. Due to the integrated nature of the units and their optional activity-based design, the timeframe for implementing the units will vary from school to school. The units can be incorporated into an existing curriculum or stand alone as independent units. Each school or class will need to commit some time (at least two weeks) to implement the main action-research components of the units.
The units incorporate a number of disciplines. The teachers implementing the units are not required to be discipline specialists but it would be advantageous to couple teachers with relevant disciplines.
It is not a prerequisite for all VELS levels 3, 4 & 5 in the school to participate in the units of work but we encourage participation by more than one year level.
Ongoing Support
Gould Group will provide telephone and email support and an online discussion board to participating schools during Terms 1, 2 and 3 2008.
In-school Performance
All 2008 participating schools receive a free in-school performance by a professional group called The Sustainables Troupe, managed by Our Planet Enterprises. This performance has been designed to engage, entertain and motivate, as well as educate the students on the ten sustainable actions associated with The Sustainables Challenge.
The Troupe performance is designed to run independently of the unit of work but it integrates very well if project work has begun. Components of the units can be linked with the Troupe performance.
Review 2008 school selection criteria
2008 school selection criteria 
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