This learning resource supports students and teachers in Years 3 to 6 to explore the documentary television series Built to Survive in the classroom and beyond.

Built to Survive follows third generation Indigenous educator Phil Breslin, on a mission to reveal the Australian animals that adapt and survive in our diverse Australian environments. Each episode of the series explores a different Australian habitat. Read more about the series in the About Built to Survive section.

The Built to Survive  learning resource includes five lessons that explore different habitats and the animals that survive within them. Each lesson involves watching and responding to one episode of Built to Survive. These lessons include:

The episodes explored in these lessons are all rated G. Classes can complete a single lesson or the whole unit to represent diverse ecosystems within Australia.

To complete each lesson students become documentary hosts, drawing on their research and following the format of Built to Survive. The resource also includes a module called Documentary Filmmaking which provides a step by step process to:

• Research and plan a script to host their own segment of Built to Survive.
• Use a greenscreen and digital ‘environment backdrop’ to transport students to the locations from Built to Survive.
• Present and record their own video segment sharing facts and observations based on their research and planning.
• Download and edit cutaway footage into their segment and then bring it all together into a mini episode created by the whole class.

The education licence and series of Built to Survive can be purchased by Australian education institutions from the ACTF shop here.

The ACTF would like to better understand how teachers are using our resources in the classroom. We welcome feedback from teachers who have delivered and adapted our resources. Please reach out to education@actf.com.au with questions, comments and suggestions.