Year 5 Global Innovators

This term, our Year 5 students have embarked on an exciting journey to become Global Innovators, exploring how young people can make a meaningful difference in the world around them. Through hands-on learning, inspiring guest speakers and collaborative problem-solving, students have been discovering that even the biggest global challenges can begin to be solved with one great idea.

Throughout the term, students have been learning about the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, exploring the challenges facing communities both locally and globally. From protecting life on land and below water to reducing poverty, improving access to clean water and responsible consumption, students have been challenged to think critically about the world they live in and consider how they might contribute to creating a better future. Tomas from 5A states, “In our global goals groups we have been thinking about ways that we could help solve these goals in our areas by making unique prototypes. My favourite part about the global goals is that there are many creative ways that we can help solve these problems in our communities.”

One of the highlights of our learning has been welcoming a fantastic range of guest speakers into our classrooms. Representatives from the Animal Welfare League, Orange Sky, OzHarvest and Griffith University, including Dr Zhe Hou, have shared their knowledge, experiences and passion for creating positive change. These sessions have given students the opportunity to hear from people who are already making a difference and have helped them understand that innovation can take many different forms. Oliver stated, "I thought all of the presentations were very inspiring, and it was amazing to see the impact that all of these different organisations could make. I used what I learned from these presenters, when working on our own Global Innovators project." 

We were also incredibly fortunate to welcome 10 Cent Tom, who set our Year 5 students a very exciting challenge: to collect and fill 120 bags with plastic bottles and aluminium cans. This challenge has encouraged students to think about waste, recycling and the impact of our everyday choices. It has also shown them how simple actions can create opportunities and make a difference within our community.

Our students were particularly inspired by the message behind 10 Cent Tom's work. As Ebony from 5M explained, “We loved 10 Cent Tom because of the opportunities of how people with different disabilities can have a job. Like, we can fill up two bags and that is how much they get paid somewhere else.” This helped students recognise that sustainability is not only about protecting our environment but can also be connected to creating inclusive opportunities for people within our community.

Heideka also made an important connection between 10 Cent Tom and the Global Goals, explaining, “10 Cent Tom focuses on Global Goal 15, Life on Land, because 10 Cent Tom takes bottles, so people don't leave rubbish on the floor. Also, number 11, Sustainable Cities, because they are cleaning up.” It has been wonderful to see students making these connections and understanding how one initiative can contribute to multiple Global Goals.

A major highlight of the term was our Global Innovators Day. Students were placed into groups and assigned one of the 17 Global Goals. Their challenge was to investigate a problem connected to their goal and begin designing a prototype that could help address this issue within our local community. Working collaboratively, students have been researching, brainstorming, designing, testing ideas and thinking creatively about how their solutions could make a genuine difference.

What has been particularly exciting to see is the way students have embraced the opportunity to think like real-world innovators. They have had to listen to one another, consider different perspectives, overcome challenges and be willing to rethink their ideas when something doesn’t quite work. Along the way, they have been developing important skills in communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

The excitement will continue into Week 8, when our Global Innovators will have the opportunity to showcase their prototypes to our Senior Leadership Team, staff, students and parents.  Lillian explains that "A prototype is the first step in turning an idea into something real. It allows us to test, improve and discover new possibilities. Every mistake teaches us to work toward a better solution. A prototype doesn't have to be perfect-it is just a step toward success. I am looking forward to sharing our team's prototype with everyone.”

Students will pitch their ideas in a Shark Tank-style presentation, convincing their audience that their solution has the potential to make a positive difference. They will explain the problem they are trying to solve, showcase their prototype and share how their idea could help move our community one step closer to achieving their Global Goal.

It has been wonderful to watch our Year 5 students realise that they don't have to wait until they are adults to make a difference. They already have the creativity, curiosity and determination to be innovators and changemakers.

As we head towards our final showcase, we cannot wait to see our students think big, dream boldly and pitch their ideas for a better world!

April Austin, Kate Hamilton, Alyssa Moore and Stephanie Tingle | Year 5 Teachers