The purpose of the Bushfire Education webpages is to provide teaching and learning resources to support bushfire education for primary and secondary schools (Year 1 to Year 8). Based on four themes, the Bushfire Education webpages aim to better prepare all young Australians for the challenges of living in a country that regularly experiences bushfires.
The 'Learning about bushfires' theme explores what is essential to know about fire, what causes bushfires, and how they behave in the Australian environment.
All bushfire education teaching and learning activities have been aligned to relevant areas of the Victorian Curriculum F–10.
Learning about bushfires
This section introduces the theme of 'Learning about bushfires' in the context of safety messages, and it is designed to support the learning needs of students from Years 1 to 3, with alignment to Victorian Curriculum Levels 1 and 2.
The aim of the section is to provide a basic awareness of why bushfires are dangerous, when bushfires are most likely to happen and the systems in place to help keep people safe.
Throughout this section, care needs to be taken to clarify any misconceptions students may have about bushfires. For example, some students may be familiar with plans for safe exits and a safe meeting place in the event of a house fire or a fire drill at school, when the danger is inside. Be sure they understand that in a bushfire the danger comes from outside, and people will have different safety plans depending on their circumstances.
Types of fires – good and bad
Learning intention: In the initial session, students will be asked to reflect on their prior knowledge and experiences of fire. The exploration and tasks are intended to help students understand that some fires are helpful and others cause problems. Students will practise and use language related to fires and bushfires.
Introducing the Fire Triangle
Learning intention: In this lesson students come to appreciate the elements a fire needs to start and continue burning. The model of the Fire Triangle is introduced, as well as key language such as 'fuel', 'heat' and 'oxygen'.
The impact of radiant heat during bushfires
Learning intention: Students will come to understand that although we need radiant heat, the heat that a fire gives off can be dangerous. Students will be aware that we do not have to be touched by the flames in order to be burnt or hurt by fire. The safety message of a person moving away from the heat source or putting something between themselves and the heat source will be made explicit.
Understanding the Fire Danger Rating system
Learning intention: Students are encouraged to use their knowledge of how fires start (the Fire Triangle) to understand that there are many causes of bushfires. They will then explore the factors and conditions related to the Fire Danger Rating system used in Victoria, and learn that this is a safety system for alerting people to potential bushfire dangers.
Other Levels 1 and 2 themes
Learning about bushfires
This section introduces the theme of 'Learning about bushfires' in the context of safety messages, and it is designed to support the learning needs of students in Years 4 to 6. It is aligned to Victorian Curriculum Levels 5 and 6.
The aim of the section is to provide students with a basic awareness of how fires burn, why bushfires are dangerous, when bushfires are most likely to happen and why they occur.
Throughout this section, care needs to be taken to clarify any misconceptions students may have about bushfires. For example, some students may be familiar with plans for safe exits and a safe meeting place in the event of a house fire or a fire drill at school, when the danger is inside. Be sure they understand that in a bushfire the danger comes from outside, and people will have different safety plans depending on their circumstances.
The Fire Triangle and exploring what a fire needs to burn
Learning intention: In this lesson students find out how fire burns (oxygen, fuel and heat) and how it can be put out, through coming to understand the Fire Triangle model.
The impact of radiant heat during bushfires
Learning intention: Students will come to understand the term 'radiant heat'. They will be able to describe the dangers of radiant heat in a bushfire situation.
Understanding the Fire Danger Rating system
Learning intention: Students will explore the factors and conditions related to the Fire Danger Rating system used in Victoria, and how this is a safety system for alerting people to potential bushfire dangers.
Causes and effects of a bushfire
Learning intention: Students will understand and be able to identify the main causes, processes and effects of bushfires, as well as grassfires, coastal fires and scrub fires, in Victoria.
Exploring Victoria's bushfire history
Learning intention: Students read and research the history of Australian bushfires, with a focus on significant bushfires that have occurred in Victoria. The session explores the history of bushfires from the perspective that they are naturally occurring events that regularly feature in our recorded history.
Other Levels 5 and 6 themes
Learning about bushfires
This section introduces the theme of 'Learning about bushfires' in the context of safety messages, and it is designed to support the learning needs of students in Years 7 to 8 but can be adjusted to teach Years 9 and 10. It is aligned to Victorian Curriculum Levels 7 and 8, and explores the history of bushfires, bushfires as a fact of life in Victoria, the science of how fires burn, why bushfires are dangerous and when they are most likely to happen.
Throughout this section, care needs to be taken to clarify any misconceptions students may have about bushfires. For example, some students may be familiar with plans for safe exits and a safe meeting place in the event of a house fire or a fire drill at school, when the danger is inside. Be sure they understand that in a bushfire the danger comes from outside, and people will have different safety plans depending on their circumstances.
Living with bushfires: Mallacoota, 2019–20
Learning intention: In this lesson students explore the 2019–20 bushfires, also known as ‘Black Summer’, as an introduction to learning about bushfires, with a particular focus on the experiences of people in Mallacoota, Victoria.
Living with bushfires: Marysville, 2009
Learning intention: In this lesson students learn that bushfires are a fact of life in Victoria and across Australia. Students explore the Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ 2009 bushfires as an introduction to learning about bushfires.
The Fire Triangle
Learning intention: Students learn that fire needs three things to start and continue burning: oxygen, fuel and heat. Therefore, to prevent or control a fire, at least one of these components must be removed.
Heat transfer
Learning intention: Students find out that heat travels in three main ways: convection, conduction and radiation. Radiant heat in a bushfire is a major killer. Understanding how radiant heat travels can help us be safer in fire situations.
Understanding bushfire behaviour and the Fire Danger Rating system
Learning intention: The conditions that influence bushfire behaviour are major determinants of the Fire Danger Rating system. The Fire Danger Ratings predict how a fire would behave if one started, including how difficult it would be to put out. The higher the rating, the more dangerous the conditions. The rating is your trigger to act, so to stay safe you need to stay aware of the Fire Danger Rating in your district.
Lessons from the past: Three major Victorian bushfires
Learning intention: Students will develop an understanding of the nature of bushfires in relation to three significant fires in Australia's history.
Other Levels 7 and 8 themes
Please note: There is potential for discomfort or distress among some students when talking, viewing and reading about bushfires. Teachers should preview, adapt and manage the teaching and learning activities and resources with respect to the particular needs and backgrounds of their students.
Information about where schools can access a range of student support services can be found on the Department of Education and Training's
Student Support Services webpages.