School Nature Challenge

March 21, 2024 / By Nita Education, SBS Learn

Native Currants. Source: Trish Hodge, Nita Education.
Native cranberries and native currants (pictured) are important to First Nations peoples of Australia because they're high in vitamin C. Source: Trish Hodge, Nita Education.

SBS Learn is bringing back the ‘School Nature Challenge‘ for the Alone Australia Season 2 which premiered on 27th March 2024.

Sitting or walking in silence. Observing your surroundings. Focusing on your different senses. How does being outside on Country make you feel?

Inspired by SBS’s Alone Australia series, SBS is kicking off a School Nature Challenge to encourage the appreciation of Country through observation of lands, waterways and sky of lutruwita (Tasmania) where Alone Australia Season 1 was filmed. The challenge takes students onto Country where school is located to complete observation activities.

The Challenge is part of a broader teacher resource for Alone Australia and provides an engaging hook to explore a range of subjects for primary and secondary school students.

SBS Learn has been working with First Nations consultants based in lutruwita from nita Education, to help teachers get started in capturing different natural environments across Australia. A huge shout out to our project collaborator Trish Hodge from nita! Trish’s post below is your inspo and starting point for this Challenge.  

How to get involved

For a chance to be featured on SBS Learn website, we are asking schools to take part in this challenge by:

    • Step 1 – Record ONE natural soundscape
    • Step 2 – Photograph TWO native plants (bonus: if you can find a native animal, include that in your challenge entry)
    • Step 3 – Did you know the ______________[insert plant or animal name] is important to First Nations peoples of Australia because_______________________________________________________________.
    • Step 4 – Name the Country your school is located and label the plant or animal in your recording and photographs.

* Some helpful suggestions: use AIATSIS Whose Country am I on? and the SBS Learn Protocols Guide for Teachers for best practice on identifying Traditional Owners. For more details and information head to teacher resource.

How do I share content?

To share your class’s Challenge content with SBS, email your entry to sbslearn@sbs.com.au along with the student/class name and school. 

*By sending the artwork images to SBS, you agree you have permission to share the multimedia content and consent for SBS to publish the work on our website and/or social media channels, as well agree to publish the student/class name and the school or location.

SBS Learn has launched updated teacher resources for Alone Australia Season 2 for primary and high school students. From survivalist exercises, scientific investigations to outdoor learning opportunities, these materials provide high engagement for student learning and scope for deep inquiry.