Celebrating Biodiversity

‘Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms on Earth – the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems that are their homes.’

Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

‘Biodiversity Month’ is celebrated widely in September, however, the DCCEEW also prompt us to celebrate biodiversity EVERY month. We’re encouraged to make time to reflect on our extraordinary natural world, foster conservation and protection. In doing so, it inspires us to connect with nature and think about the incredible biodiversity and ecosystems of our precious planet, helping us to reduce our impact on the environment and make positive steps to protect it.

For inspiration, the DCCEEW’s website and SBS Audio’s award-winning podcast series ‘Everything We Need’ are great places to start, offering tips and ideas to help kickstart action and incorporate positive changes into our daily lives.

You may like to adapt some of their ideas for a class environment, such as keeping a nature journal, creating a natural habitat in your schoolyard or reducing food waste. The DCCEEW have also developed a series of factsheets on the State of the Environment (SOE) report for schools and educators, with prompting questions and activity ideas.

If you’re unsure of where to begin, consider (re)introducing your class to the concept of the 5R’s. Adapting the 5R’s to your school context or setting is a fantastic way to get your students thinking and inspired about the environment, and in turn conscious about the role they can play in its care. See Clean Up Australia for some simple explainers in each category. Noting, ‘repurpose’ is referred to as repair.

Renowned British biologist, natural historian and writer Sir David Attenborough once said;

“The best motto to think about is not to waste things. Don’t waste electricity, don’t waste paper, don’t waste food. Live the way you want to live but just don’t waste. Look after the natural world and the animals in it and the plants in it too. This is their planet as well as ours. Don’t waste them.”

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Explore our selection of uplifting and engaging ideas to celebrate Biodiversity Month year-round, requiring only a little planning, elbow grease, creativity – and positivity! It’s the small actions of many that can have a huge impact. 

PLOGGING

Wouldn’t it be great if we could make littering a thing of the past? Get your students thinking and talking about the impact of litter. Some of you may recall the ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’ and ‘Do The Right Thing’ campaigns of the 1980s, or more recently the ‘Don’t Be a Tosser’ campaign. Ask your students to design their own anti-litter posters or a clean-up event poster.

Growing in popularity, ‘Plogging’, is an international movement derived from the Swedish term ‘Plogga’ a combination of the words jog ‘jogga’ and pick up ‘plocka up’. It is, put simply, combining the act of jogging with picking up litter. Many participants document their rubbish haul with pictures or videos on their chosen social platform, aiming to raise awareness of littering and rubbish more broadly, and its impact on our natural world. 

Either collectively within your school grounds or at an alternative appropriate sport or excursion setting, plan a day or event that incorporates the ideas of plogging to best suit your cohort, perhaps modifying the event to a walk for your students. Teachers may like to create a classroom photo board. Make it exciting and fun to document and monitor photos of their hauls, ensuring they correctly dispose of rubbish afterwards. Check out the details of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo’s recent Rubbish Run fundraiser event for inspiration. 

Your students may enjoy drawing inspiration from movements such as #PICKUP1MILLION which successfully inspired followers to remove one million bottles from communities and waterways, achieving their monumental target in 2021.

Ensure students understand the safety precautions when picking up rubbish. Conduct a thorough risk assessment for this activity that complies with your education department’s standards. Students should feel proud that the litter they pick up instantly benefits the community and natural habitats.

They may have even saved an animal or sea-life creature from future harm. Remind your students that wind and rain, for example, often eventually push litter into drains which lead to the sea.

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CREATE ARTWORK & SCULPTURES

To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2024, the SBS and NITV Sydney office showcased exhibits from a marine ecology installation created by Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous collaborating artists from Erub Arts on Erub (Darnley Island), Torres Strait, on loan from the Australian National Maritime Museum.

These exhibits are made from discarded ropes and fishing lines found in the ocean and along the shorelines of the Torres Strait Islands and other parts of Australia. Ghost Nets exhibits are uniquely awe-inspiring examples of repurposing.

Younger kids may enjoy the Australian National Maritime Museum Ghost Net inspired craft activities.

Older students may like the group challenge of creating a larger scale sculpture, like a marine creature or a coral bombora such as the one shown above.

Alternatively, students can design a temporary installation in the playground. Using chalk, draw a sketch of a shark, fish or turtle and have students fill it with recyclable or discarded plastic or litter from the playground or home. Photograph this installation from above for your school’s newsletter or social media to raise awareness of how much waste is produced. If a smaller activity is more achievable, use large cardboard posters to sketch an outline onto instead. Thoughtful placement of items can create striking artwork.

FUNDRAISING

Does your school participate in fundraisers? Maybe your next casual clothes/dress-up day is opportunity to collect gold coin donations for a conservation organisation. Students may want to brainstorm a local organisation or one they feel strongly about to contribute their donations. Allowing the students to decide which organisation to support will provide them with a voice and empower their decision making.

SWAP FOR GOOD

A fantastic and fun way to promote sustainability is to run a book, clothing or toy swap for your class or school. Giving items a longer life has many benefits for the environment.

Consider if a garden swap might also work for your school community. Encourage students to bring in pest-free seeds, plants or cuttings from home (seeking permission and assistance from their parents and guardians first). This could extend to swapping herbs, fruit and vegetables grown in home gardens.

You may wish to conduct further research with your students on Indigenous plants where your school is located and their importance to First Nations communities.  

To make these events fair and equitable, consider running it like a draw or raffle. Every student that brings in an item is given a token and allocated a number. Then they must wait for the teacher to draw their number before choosing their new item.

A general rule is for all items to be in clean and great condition. Any leftover items can be given to a local charity.  Plants and perishables can be either composted or placed in the appropriate green waste bins.

Consider suitable drop-off points, front-office or hall. Think about how big you’d like the event to be. You may choose to provide clear categories, such as pre-loved books, games, clothing and toys.

See Ku-ring-gai Council’s website for more inspiration on running such an event.

PLANTING

Today’s seeds planted are tomorrow’s trees and oxygen. What an exciting prospect! Grow It Local is another wonderful initiative that encourages growing your own food at home and in your community. They have many tips and run workshops for growing your own produce. Consider a small-scale planting project in your class or school.

You may want to grow plants that First Nations peoples have and continue to use in your area. Consider consulting with your local First Nations community to learn more.

We have witnessed significant positive changes in recent times. Only a few years ago, we may never have imagined a life without plastic straws. State and territorial governments are now at various stages of phasing in wider bans on plastics.

You may wish to run a working committee with your cohort using some of the ideas in this article on how to promote celebrating biodiversity all year-round. Think about activities or projects that can have longer timelines so you can promote biodiversity in every aspect of your school environment!