Concern for the Great Barrier Reef : 6 Thinking Hats (created by Anabel Mifsud, ACU Education Student)

Primary Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability 

Australian Curriculum Cross Curriculum Priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Australian Curriculum Cross Curriculum Priorities: Sustainability Priority

Cooperative Learning Activity

1. The Great Barrier Reef is recognised as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and is the world's largest coral reef system. Multiple factors are contributing to the reefs decline, from tourism to water pollution to climate change, with research showing that half of the reef has vanished in the past 27 years. (Source: LiveScience)

Look at the following resources to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef: About the Reef	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
WWF - Great Barrier Reef	Great Barrier Reef Foundation
The Conversation 24 March 2022

2. Edward de Bono was a Maltese physician, psychologist, and inventor. He designed the Six Thinking Hats - a method of looking at a problem from different perspectives in order to achieve a more balanced and fair argument or debate.

Use the Six Thinking Hats process to create a fair and balanced conversation on the Great Barrier Reef. Below are some suggested questions you could use for each of the six hats.
(Activity inspired by the Great Barrier Reef's Marine Park Authoritys Reef Beat Resource Kit. PDF)

3. In groups of 6, select one hat to be your perspective or role. Pull the different colours out of a hat to allocate your role.

	WHITE HAT: facts and information ASK: - What do you know to be true about the Great Barrier Reef? - Which species are dependant on the reef? - How do our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders interact with the Reef? - Which industries benefit from are are invested in the prosperity of the Great Barrier Reef? (THINK: Government, scientists, environmentalists, tourism) and how? - What are the facts?
	GREEN HAT: creativity ASK: - What are some solutions to the Great Barrier Reef's issues? - Are there alternative ways to conserve or protect the reef? - Is there a new way we could do things? - What is possible for us to achieve as global citizens? And if not us, who could assist us in acheiving what is wanted or needed?
	BLUE HAT: process control ASK: - What is the Great Barrier Reef all about? - What has this discussion made you consider? - What questions does our learing about the Great Barrier Reef raise?
	YELLOW HAT: represents the positives ASK: - The reef is important because... - What are the positives about the Great Barrier Reef?
	BLACK HAT: represents the negatives ASK: - What are the negatives about the Great Barrier Reef? - Which groups may the protection of the Great Barrier Reef adversely affect? (THINK: commercial fishing, mining)
	RED HAT: feelings and emotions ASK: - How do you feel about the Great Barrier Reef? - What are your feelings towards its decline?

4. After you have finished your discussion, write a letter to the Prime Minister of Australia, the Queensland Premier, or the Environment Minister, arguing why and how you believe we should protect the reef.

. Share with your partner. Did they come up with different angles to you?

Tracking Sharks!  (created by Anabel Mifsud, ACU Education Student)

Primary Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

1. Tracking the movements of sharks has become a valuable and entertaining tool for oceanographers, as it allows for them to monitor the migratory patterns, movement patterns, social connections, havitat use, and even life histories of species! These insights allow us to conserve and prevent extinction as well as understand how organisms interract with their ecosystem.

You can read about the different methods of tagging marine animals here.

The website Ocearch is one such website which allows us to track the movement of tagged sharks. Spend a few minutes familiarising yourself with their website

2. Using the 'Track in Real Time' function on the left hand side of the site, choose a shark you would like to track. Over the next month, log on daily to track the movement and activities of this shark. Print off a profile for your chosen shark, and each day include any new information. Be sure to date the information!

Your profile should include:
- Shark name
- Species
- Brief description of species
- Gender
- Size
- Stage of Life
- Tagged at
- Tag Date
- A picture of the shark (these are typically included in the sharks description!)
- Migratory patterns
- Movement

3. Create a Shark classroom with each of the information you have discovered along with a picture of each shark.