© Copyright 2000 Teaching Treasures Publications


Lesson Plan 10
  • Subject: White gum as bush tucker.
  • Introduction: Bush tucker was and still is a valuable food source for animals, birds, insects and humans.
  • Student Objective: To learn the value of bush foods, understand survival skills, learn what is edible and useful about certain bush plants, realize that bush plants are also used for medicinal purposes, understand the legal and environmental issues associated with collecting bush tucker.
  • Learning Outcomes: Society and Environment, Technology, Science, English, Maths and Art.
  • Materials needed: Enthusiastic students, pen, paper, paints, art supplies, computer, scanner, multimedia, internet access, dictionary, public or school library access. Optional: camera or digital camera.
  • Select age group:    Ages 5-7        Ages 8-10        Ages 11-13       Ages 14-16

 

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Ages 5-7

Step: (If possible collect several white gum flowers and leaves beforehand)

  1. Ask students if they know what bush tucker is.
  2. Can one student give an example of bush tucker?
  3. Discuss that it is illegal to dig up bush plants unless you have special permission.
  4. Explain that although we are talking about a plant as bush tucker, it can also be fish or an animal.
  5. Read the introduction web page about the white gum to your student.
  6. Locate a library book with pictures of white gum to show your students.
  7. Discuss what insects do when they land on the flowers. (Pollinate, collect nectar etc.)
  8. Explain that white gum were named by Aborigines and botanists gave it a Scientific name.
  9. Explain what a botanist does.
  10. Ask students to draw a white gum by looking at the picture in the library book. This can be done with pencils or paints.
  11. Ask students to write the words 'white gum'  on their drawing. Ask them to write something about white gum if they can.
  12. Use white and green crepe-paper to make white gum flowers and leaves. Make a white gum display when they're all finished.
  13. Make a large display banner with your students with the heading 'white gum'. Hang it above the display.
  14. If possible, organise a walk where white gum grow.

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Ages 8-10

Step: (If possible collect several white gum flowers and leaves beforehand)

  1. Ask students if they know what bush tucker is.
  2. Can one student give an example of bush tucker?
  3. Discuss that it is illegal to dig up bush plants unless you have special permission. Aborigines have permission in certain areas and are still using bush tucker as part of their diet.
  4. Explain that although we are talking about a plant as bush tucker, it can also be fish or an animal.
  5. Ask students to read the introduction web page about the white gum
  6. Ask students to locate a library book with pictures of white gum.
  7. Discuss what insects do when they land on the flowers. (Pollinate, collect nectar etc.)
  8. Explain that white gum were named by Aborigines and botanists gave it a Scientific name.
  9. Ask students to find out what a botanist does.
  10. Ask students to draw a white gum by looking at the picture in the library book. This can be done with pencils or paints.
  11. Ask students to write a short essay about white gum, where it grows, what it looks like and what parts are edible or used for medicinal purposes.
  12. Ask students to explore the Internet by searching for the given topic in a search engine.
  13. If possible, organise a walk where white gum grow.

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Ages 11-13

Step: (If possible collect several white gum flowers and leaves beforehand)

  1. Ask students if they know what bush tucker is.
  2. Can several students give an example of bush tucker?
  3. Discuss that it is illegal to dig up bush plants unless you have special permission. Aborigines have permission in certain areas and are still using bush tucker as part of their diet.
  4. Explain that although we are talking about a plant as bush tucker, it can also be fish or an animal.
  5. Ask students to read the introduction web page about the white gum
  6. Ask students to locate a library book dealing with white gum. It should contain some pictures.
  7. Discuss what insects do when they land on the flowers. (Pollinate, collect nectar etc.)
  8. Explain that white gum were named by Aborigines and botanists gave it a Scientific name.
  9. Ask students to find out what a botanist does.
  10. Ask students to locate a book or internet site about a famous botanist and read about this person.
  11. Ask students to draw a white gum. This can be done with pencils or paints.
  12. Ask students to write an essay about the white gum, where it grows, what it looks like, what parts are edible, if it has medicinal purposes and its Scientific name.
  13. Ask students to explore the Internet by searching for the given topic in a search engine.
  14. If possible, organise a walk where white gum grow.

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Ages 14-16

Step: (If possible collect several white gum flowers and leaves beforehand)

  1. Can several students give an example of bush tucker?
  2. Explain that although we are talking about a plant as bush tucker, it can also be fish or an animal.
  3. Ask students to read the introduction web page about white gum
  4. Ask students to locate a library book dealing with the white gum. It should contain some pictures and Scientific facts.
  5. Discuss what insects do when they land on the flowers. (Pollinate, collect nectar etc.)
  6. Explain that white gum were named by Aborigines and botanists gave it a Scientific name. Ask students to find out what a botanist does. 
  7. When they have found out ask students to locate a book or internet site about a famous botanist. Ask them to bookmark their research for inclusion in their essay.
  8. Discuss that it is illegal to dig up bush plants unless you have special permission. Aborigines have permission in certain areas and are still using bush tucker as part of their diet. Ask students to find out who to contact if they wanted permission to explore and sample bush tucker for research purposes. They should include this information in their essay as well.
  9. Learn together about the environment, discuss the environmental impact of clear felling, bush fires or vandalism. This can also be included in their essay.
  10. Ask students to explore the Internet by searching for the given topic in a search engine.
  11. Ask students to write an essay (by hand or with the use of a computer) about the white gum, where it grows, what it looks like, what parts are edible, if it has medicinal purposes, its Scientific name and all other facts they have previous researched.
  12. Ask students to draw a white gum on their essay work (if done by hand) by looking at the picture of a library book as an example. This can be done with pencils or paints. The drawings can be scanned and placed on their work if they have done it with the help of the computer.
  13. If possible, organise a walk where white gum grow.
  14. Pictures can be taken and scanned or use a digital camera.

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