Island Castaways

Task 1: Introduction and warm up

Teachers, here is some information you may like to share with your students before watching the episode:

• This episode explores three isolated islands and three animals that call them home: the Green Sea Turtle, the Dingo and the death adder. 
• The environments on islands can vary widely, from rocky outcrops to tropical reefs. But they all have one thing in common: their isolation.  
• The first destination Phil explores in this episode is the remote group of islands known as the Wellesley Islands, home to the Lardil, Kardal and Yangul people.  
• The second destination Phil explores is K'Gari. He travels there via a watercraft made from natural materials.
• The third destination Phil explores is an island that is said to have been formed by an ancient creation spirit. The Wulgurukaba Dreaming story tells how their creator wove down the east coast from Hinchinbrook to Townsville, along the path creating Halifax Bay and Palm Island. While the head rests here on Yunbenum (Magnetic Island).

Consider creating a list of unique vocabulary found in Built To Survive. These words can be added to the class spelling list or can be formed into a class glossary for definitions. 

As a warm up activity, ask all students to stand up, remain silent and look at the below image. Their task is to find the well camouflaged snake, the death adder. Once students have spotted the death adder they can sit down. It’s a tricky task and some students may not be able to spot this camouflage expert.

Remind students that they should not disturb or try to handle wild animals as they can be dangerous.

Task 2: Watch and document

As a class, watch 'Island Castaways' - episode 7 of Built to Survive. While watching, ask students to take notes on key facts Phil and the experts share on each of the three animals in the episode. 

At the end of the episode, students can choose which animal they think is without a doubt ‘built to survive’. Support students to form small groups with other students who have selected the same animal. This will be be their documentary production team for the next task. 

Task 3: Reflect and collaborate

In their documentary production teams, ask students to reflect on the episode and the facts they learnt about the animal they believe is the strongest in the island environment - the animal that is ‘built to survive’. 

Download or print the animal facts sheets to support the production team's research.

Student can then document a range of facts they would like to share back in their documentary segment using the planning worksheet below. Remind students to document how the animal and the ecosystem work together to survive and thrive.

Download the planning sheet below to support students' planning.

Task 4: Present and share

To prepare for filming the Built to Survive segments, download the below green screen backgrounds and cutaway footage. Then, follow the tips and tricks in the Documentary Filmmaking section of this resource to film and edit each documentary production team's segment.

In this file you will find:

• 3 x downloadable cutaways folders with two cutaway clips for each animal
  • Green sea turtle background
  • Dingo background
  • Death adder background
    
    
• 3 x downloadable cutaways folders with two cutaway clips for each animal
  
  • Green sea turtle cutaways x 2
  • Dingo cutaways x 2 
  • Death adder cutaways x 2