Bugs ‘R’ Us

Enrol the students in a relevant real-world blanket role connected to their local environment and establish the key skills, knowledge and values needed to take on this role. Begin getting to know your local place through research, attentiveness, linking in with existing projects or issues and speaking with local experts. Record and reflect on the students’ discoveries & progress throughout Chapter One.

Introduce the PEEC radio play Bugs of Brisbane in connection with the students’ role and consider why the ‘bugs’ are so concerned about improving their relationship with humans. Think deeply about ‘bugs’ and human attitudes towards them through literacy, philosophy and drama and then accept the invitation to attend the excursion at PEEC and become Entomologists-In-Training.

At PEEC, the Entomologists-In-Training attend the ‘Annual Arthropods Conference’ and undertake research in the field to discover more about the Bugs of Brisbane and their behaviours. As the conference proceeds, they soon find that they must apply their knowledge and understandings, and make some serious decisions that will affect the lives of ‘bugs’.

Back at school, the children recap the excursion day and then reflect on and continue the story. By also reflecting on their experiences so far, the students consider and articulate what they have learnt about themselves and their connection to place, and identify the skills that they have developed. What now?

The children work together to develop and implement an achievable, student-led project that will link them with the community and make life better in their place.