Suitable age group
Waterbugs Higher Level Key![]() Use this key to identify bugs using the Agreed Level Taxonomy (ALT) method. Some waterbugs are impossible to identify without a microscope, the best thing about ALT is that it uses features that are visible to the naked eye to identify macroinvertebrates. For more info on ALT method, go to: thewaterbug.net
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Wetlands Habitat Activity Booklet![]()
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Waterbug poster![]() Use this poster to help students explore waterbugs – it has their sensitivity score. It can be laminated (or similar) for reuse or printed and used as tick sheet for students. You can use it to explore which areas the animals live in also! (Five habitats are marked on the poster).
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Waterbug colouring sheets![]() https://www.riverdetectives.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sensitive-waterbugs.pdf
Use Melbourne Water’s beautiful colouring images of waterbugs to add to your lessons.
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Platypus colouring sheet![]() Use Melbourne Water’s beautiful image of the platypus as a mindful colouring activity.
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Carp Fact Sheet![]() Find out all the facts about the introduced fish species in this factsheet
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How to enter data guide![]() This will help you to enter data into the website once you have been to site to collect it!
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Who is your local Landcare group?![]() Landcare represents thousands of people across Victoria, working together to increase biodiversity and promote the sustainable management of land. Find out what your local group is doing and how your River Detectives program might be able to link up with them. To find your local group visit Landcare – if you scroll down you can look by group name or further down by a map.
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Salinity in our waterways poster![]()
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Exploring the world of waterbugs: How to run a waterbug session with kids![]() This video takes you through the key steps of how to sample and look for macroinvertebrates (waterbugs) with your kids! Priya makes it simple for you to take testing to your school. Don’t forget to contact your local Catchment Management Authority to see if you can borrow some equipment to run the testing with your group.
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Wimmera Catchment Management Authority Map![]() See the Wimmera Catchment with colour and clear outline of waterways and water bodies.
You can find a map of the Wimmera Catchment here – which is different to the CMA borders (a little confusing I know!).
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Bug outlines![]() Use these bug outlines to colour in, put in their correct habitat, get student’s to write facts about them or investigate them!
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Map your River![]() Follow the Teachers Guide to support students carrying out the activity – Meandering Map.
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How to make a bug dial![]() Make your own bug dial so that you can look at individual bugs and the way they move, their tolerance, where they live and special features.
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Junior Landcare![]() Check out: – where your local Junior Landcare group is – how to get Landcare going in your school – activity ideas (linked to the Australian curriculum) – apply for grants – how to guides for worm farms, frog ponds, enhancing habitats and more!
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Run of the river board game![]() The famous Waterwatch game Run of the River can be taken into the classroom very easily: Download the Board Read the Teacher Instructions And find out How to play
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Our platypus – information brochure (posters)![]() Information developed by Melbourne Water about monitoring for the platypus. Lots of great information and potential posters for the classroom.
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Creating a frog friendly habitat![]() Find out all about how to create a frog friendly habitat
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Controlling carp fact sheet![]() Find out all about the FRDC’s plan for controlling carp – informative and interesting!
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All about water bugs![]() Use this information and images about water bugs to put each of the water bugs into the correct habitat on the in-stream-habitat-poster or play a game of snap!
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Salinity – fact sheet![]() Salinity refers to the movement and concentration of salt through the landscape. Find out more here!
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What is a catchment? Fact sheet![]() A catchment is the area of land from which rainfall flows to form a creek or river. Find out how it is managed and what are some threats to catchments.
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Algae fact sheet![]() What algae is that? Why is it there? Find out more here!
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Stormwater fact sheet![]() What is stormwater? What happens to it and what can we do to help protect our waterways?
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Phosphorus – fact sheet![]() Find out about what causes phosphorus in a waterway.
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Habitats near a waterway – fact sheet![]() Find out about what the different habitats near a waterway are and the benefits of them!
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What is the riparian zone? – fact sheet![]() The riparian zone is any land that adjoins, directly influences, or is influenced by a body of water. Find out what the values, threats and management concerns are.
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Blackwater Fact sheet![]() Find out about why water sometimes turns black!
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Woody Habitat Fact Sheet![]() Find out about what a woody habitat is, why it is there and what is being done to manage them.
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FOAM fact sheet![]() Find about how and why foam occurs in waterways.
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Map of Melbourne’s Catchments![]() Explore the catchments of Melbourne!
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The Natural Water Cycle![]() Explore the Natural Water Cycle through South East Water’s interactive information and game.
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Maps of the North Central Catchments![]() Find out some more detail about your local area by looking at the below Catchment Maps: Upper Loddon Map; Upper Campaspe Map; Upper Avoca River Map; Lower Loddon River Map; Lower Campaspe Map; Lower Avoca Map; Loddon West Map; Loddon East Map; Gunbower Map; Coliban Map; Avon Richardson Map
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River Detectives Manual – North Central – **new version coming for all regions soon![]() Download the sections of the teachers manual to guide you through a range of topics relating to Catchment Health:
Introduction to River Detectives Manual; Water Science; Homely Habitats and Homely Habitats Diagram; Story of a River; Getting Froggy; Salt Watch Week; Stormwater; Macroinvertebrates (waterbugs); Making macroinvertebrates
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Run of the River Game (Murray Darling Basin)![]() This game is educational and fun! You have the following challenge: Water is scarce and needs to be shared around. You must deliver the bubbles of water from the river to the wetlands, farms and communities, whilst keeping the river mouth connected to the ocean. Control dam releases to quench the thirst of all your water consumers through the challenges of flood, drought, evaporation, seasonal changes….
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Is your school a Resource Smart School?![]() By being a part of River Detectives you should check your Biodiversity module to tick off some extra areas!
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Colouring sheet – Growling Grass Frog![]()
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Colouring sheet – Frog Life Cycle![]()
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Mindfulness Colouring Sheet – Frogs![]()
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Action in the Catchment (Field Manual)![]() A guide to water quality testing and sampling – full of lots of information to guide you!
Get your School Field Manual now!
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Games all about the river!![]() Find some game ideas to run with your class with bits and pieces ideas sheet!
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Stormwater education![]() Stormwater Manual – activities, information and worksheets
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Corangamite Catchment Map![]() See where Corangamite’s Catchments are… you might like to print this to put on your wall at school.
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Fresh and Salty Booklet![]() You might want to look at salinity at anytime of the year, but we have a close look at Salinity in May and invite you to as well. Look at the booklet below and even watch the ‘Fresh and Salty’ video too!
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Frog Information from the Amphibian Research Centre![]() Find out all about the frogs and where you can find them, how to encourage them to your area and some rules around frogs too – Frog Info here!
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Macro Sweep Sample![]() How do I run a sweep sample for my students?
FInd out how to sweep sample now!
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City of Geelong- Stormwater Manual![]() Activities all about stormwater in Geelong! Get your local stormwater manual now to guide your lessons in the classroom.
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North Central CMA Region 3D map![]() See the highs and lows of the North Central region and everything in between!
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Turbidity Fact Sheet![]()
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pH Fact sheet![]()
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Exploring Estuaries Guide![]()
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Exploring Water Bugs![]() Find out all about the weird and wonderful details of all the water bugs with flip charts for each animal.
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Nine days on Tang Tang Swamp![]() Watch environmental change occur over a period of nine days at a drying waterhole at a public wetland located in North Central Victoria.
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Fresh and Salty video![]() Fresh and Salty is a short animated film produced by the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority. Great for students!
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