Teacher
Pesticide Watch guide
During 2023 some regions will value add to their monthly water quality monitoring by participating in Pesticide Watch, a nation-wide program run by Deakin University helping communities identify pesticides in their local waterways through citizen-science. Find out more by reading this guide or join the Pesticide Watch Facebook Page. A video of the testing process can be viewed here. To ask questions about the testing process or Pesticide Watch project contact Brady Hamilton from Deakin University directly; brady.hamilton@deakin.edu.au
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Presentation Template
Teachers and students can edit this River Detectives slideshow template to present content, share findings, showcase photos or present projects internally in class, at school assemblies or information evenings OR externally for award nominations, forum presentations, etc. It can be used at in-person or shared on screen during online events.
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World Wetlands Day teacher guide
Jeanie Clark, regional River Detectives coordinator in the Wimmera CMA region develops teaching resources for World Wetlands Day each year (usually held early February). The teacher guides are tailored to schools in the Wimmera region but general wetland information and activity suggestions will be useful in any region. They can be used as on-demand PD or as a guide for planning your studies of wetlands. 2022 World Wetland Day guide with theme ‘Upstream, downstream, wetlands connect us all’ 2023 World Wetland Day guide with theme ‘It’s time for wetland restoration’
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School stories from the North Central CMA region
Be inspired by the way schools in the north central region are implementing the program; Bridgewater PS (2022) or watch a video featuring their River Detectives story here.
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Caring For The Campaspe Project River Health Snapshot 2021
Gauge the health of waterways in the Campaspe River using this compilation of water quality and water bug data collected by citizen-scientists.
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Litter Trackers Program
RMIT’s Litter Trackers program offers services to schools and community groups to better understand the way litter is transported along our waterways. Through GPS technology litter can be mapped to asses how and where it travels and highlight the issue of urban stormwater on our waterways and oceans. Check out the website to track litter, watch animations, access litter education materials or get involved in the program. Get an overview of the program by reading the Litter Trackers presentation shown at the 2022 Statewide River Detectives Online Summit.
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Kayaking the sickest urban river in Australia video
Join Beau Miles as he kayaks 23kms along Cooks River in Sydney over 4 days reflecting on it’s interesting past, it’s disturbing present and it’s hopeful future. An eye-opening journey about the plight of our littered urban waterways in modern society. ** Language warning ** Be aware some language will not be appropriate for younger viewers.
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River Detectives 2022 Mid Year Report
Celebrate the achievements of River Detectives across all five regions of Victoria as they learn about our precious waterways and catchments.
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Wildlife of Native Grasslands on Victoria’s Northern Plains
Victoria’s Northern Plains grasslands support unique yet highly endangered and severely fragmented communities of plants and animals. Over the past 180 years, more than 99% of grasslands have been removed or substantially altered for agriculture. Learn about the creatures that rely on this important habitat and the plants and vegetation that support them. Head to fauna for videos about endangered Plains-wanderer birds.
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Saving the endangered Plains-wanderer bird
Critically endangered and at risk of imminent extinction, the North Central CMA is working in partnership with Trust for Nature and Australia’s National Recovery Team for the Plains-wanderer. Find out more about Plains-wanderers by viewing these videos about these quirky creatures; of using song meters to monitor populations, Werribee Zoo’s captive breeding program, incubating Plains-wanderer eggs and this gorgeous footage of the first captive-bred chicks. A picture storybook has now been released with teacher notes and is a great way to engage young learners. You can also use this beautiful colouring sheet. To learn more about the unique habitat of the Plains-wanderer check out the brochures ‘Plants and Vegetation of Native Grasslands on Victoria’s Northern Plains’ and ‘Wildlife of Native Grasslands on Victoria’s Northern Plains’.
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Indigenous Plant Use booklet
This booklet describes the medicinal, nutritional and technological uses of native plants found widely across the eastern Kulin Nation. The guide increases awareness of cultural plants although we suggest you seek advice from your local Traditional Owner group for specific information. The guide will help you design and establish a cultural garden with plant labels you can print, laminate and install.
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Underwater species colouring sheet
This colouring sheet features a variety of species that call our waterways home. Importantly it shows some of our endangered small-bodied fish. You can learn more about these fish in this video.
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The Magnificent Six video
Six small-bodied native fish species, specialists of the wetlands across the southern Murray Darling Basin, are on the brink of extinction. Learn about why and the things that are being done to save them in this video. This colouring sheet also features the magnificent six species.
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Insects of Central Victoria field guide
This is a user-friendly field guide featuring a selection of pollinating insects. It showcases insects that are likely to be observed if you sit quietly for 10 minutes in your garden or nearby bushland. For those in the Macedon Ranges, Bendigo, Mount Alexander and Hepburn shire areas, hard copies can be sourced from council offices.
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A to Z Creature Feature poster
From the Alpine Spiny Crayfish to the Zebrafish, Parks Victoria’s A-Z poster will help students learn about some of Victoria’s weird and wonderful plants and animals. For more information about the places where they are found head to the Parks Victoria website.
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Deans Marsh PS Story
Deans Marsh PS is an active River Detectives school in the Corangamite CMA region embedding the program into the curriculum, into their school’s broader sustainability initiatives and connecting with their community. Watch the video to hear their highlights or read the full story here !
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Stawell PS Story
Stawell PS is a River Detectives school in the Wimmera CMA region exploring and testing waterways from local lakes to streams in Gariwerd (Grampians National Park). Watch the video to hear their highlights or read the full story here !
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Bridgewater PS Story
Bridgewater PS is a small school in the North Central CMA region achieving great things with their innovative Outdoor Classroom program where River Detectives takes a lead role. Watch the video to hear their inspiring highlights or read the full story here !
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Introduction to Salinity slideshow
This Salinity slideshow was prepared by Wimmera CMA River Detectives coordinator Jeanie Clark as a self-guided professional development tool for teachers. Includes activity suggestions and teacher notes.
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Trentham Golf Course benefits from A Healthy Coliban Catchment video
The Trentham Golf Club is keen to make a difference to their local environment, and the Healthy Coliban Catchment project is helping them achieve it. A great example of how waterways are integral to community life and we are all responsible for their health.
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A Healthy Coliban Catchment project partnerships
Hear about the collaboration between stakeholders to ensure A Healthy Coliban Catchment; landholders, landcare groups, traditional owners and organisations.
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Landholders banding together for a healthier Coliban Catchment
A group of Drummond landholders are working together to help improve Kangaroo Creek, as part of the North Central CMA’s ‘A Healthy Coliban Catchment’ project. The project is working with locals to improve water quality and biodiversity of a catchment that provides drinking water for 130,000 people.
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Bendigo Creek Citizen Science Project River Health Snapshot 2021
Gauge the health of the Bendigo Creek using this compilation of water quality and water bug data collected by citizen-scientists.
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Reimagining Bendigo Creek prospectus
Although this document has been written for potential investors it is a great summary of the issues that exist along the Bendigo Creek and the strategies to overcome them and assist Bendigo Creek reach it’s full potential.
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The Bendigo Creek Story
This film traces the history of the Bendigo creek to explore the savage environmental impact of mining on the local environment of the Bendigo goldfields. Features fascinating images of an 1852 unique hand-written and hand-painted map of central Victoria.
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Healthy Coliban Catchment Project River Health Snapshot 2021
Gauge the health of waterways in the Healthy Coliban Catchment project area using this compilation of water quality and water bug data collected by citizen-scientists.
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RiverScan Project River Health Snapshot 2021
Gauge the health of waterways in the RiverScan project area using this compilation of water quality and water bug data collected by citizen-scientists.
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Native Fish Recovery Plan Prospectus – Gunbower and Lower Loddon
Although this document has been written for potential investors it is a great summary of the issues that exist in the Gunbower and Lower Loddon area and the strategies to overcome them.
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Caring for the Campaspe achievements brochure
Read about the amazing achievements of this North Central CMA project from 2012-2020.
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Taungurung Land and Waters Council and the Caring for Campaspe project
This is a great overview of the goals and benefits of the Caring For The Campaspe project, explaining to students how the NCCMA work alongside Traditional Owners and the actions they take to protect and enhance our waterways.
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2022 Campaspe River Tour video
The Caring for the Campaspe project once again invited Traditional Owners together to spend time on Country to share, explore and learn from each other. Hear from participants about how valued this experience is.
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Site Selection Checklist
When choosing your site along a waterway or at a wetland for citizen-science activities (water quality monitoring, waterbug sampling and habitat surveys) there are many things to consider. Please refer to this checklist to assist you.
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School stories from the North East CMA region
Be inspired by the way schools in the north east are implementing the program; St Patrick’s PS Wangaratta (2020) and Mitta Mitta PS (2022)
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School stories from the Melbourne Water area
Be inspired by the way schools in the Melbourne Water area are implementing the program; Enjoy this story from Mount Lilydale Mercy College (2020) that shows how the River Detectives program can play a role in the secondary program of a large urban school.
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School stories from the Corangamite CMA region
Be inspired by the way schools in the Corangamite region are implementing the program; Carlisle River PS (2020) and Deans Marsh PS (2022) To view a video featuring Deans Marsh Primary School’s River Detectives story click here
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School stories from the Wimmera CMA region
Be inspired by the way schools in the Wimmera region are implementing the program; Jeparit PS (2021) and Stawell PS (2022) To view a video featuring Stawell Primary School’s River Detectives story click here
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River Detectives program claymation
This claymation sums up what the River Detectives program is about and why we love it – great to share with colleagues, students, families, the wider community and to garner support for the program from local groups / businesses / funding bodies.
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The Mysterious World of Eels video
This recording of an ARI seminar features Uncle Denis Rose and Dr Wayne Koster presenting on their partnership in eel migration research. It shares the importance of eels (both culturally and ecologically) and what we’ve learned through satellite tracking. The video runs for 1hr and is suitable for older viewers as a rare chance to dive deeper into the mysterious world of eels.
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Manungaboomboom – Uncle Rick Nelson video
Uncle Rick Nelson’s story of Dja Dja Wurrung People and the impacts of colonisation on Dja Dja Wurrung County. Filmed in and around Leanganook, Mt Alexander region. This is a powerful and important story but please be aware there is some graphic content for younger viewers.
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Wanyarram Dhelk, Bendigo Creek site tour video
Wanyarram Dhelk is a cultural expression encapsulating what Bendigo Creek once was, a series of waterholes that provided food and fibre resources as well as recreational opportunities for Djaara people. This important project demonstrates how integrating Traditional Owner knowledge with water sensitive design can help restore cultural, social and environmental values to a degraded urban creek and is a great example for students. Wanyarram Dhelk has provided an example for the whole community of the potential to ‘Reimagine Bendigo Creek’ and embrace its possibilities as a valued natural resource. Use this case study to learn more, visit the site with your students, talk with traditional owners about the project or do some of your own ‘reimagining’. The case study can be accessed here or view this great video about the City of Greater Bendigo’s new Reconciliation Plan.
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‘Drought’ and ‘Flood’ picture story books
Two books by Jackie French highlighting the impact of Drought and Flood on landscapes, flora, fauna and people. Read the books or watch the online readings to start discussions about the way climate and natural processes sometimes seem irrelevant in everyday life but their impact on us are brought to the fore in times when nature is out of balance. Use the teachers notes for Drought and Flood to explore the two books with students.
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Build Me A River video
John Gooderham is an aquatic and macroinvertebrate ecologist with a knack for sharing his enthusiasm for waterbugs. This video highlights the importance of in-stream and riparian zone habitat to healthy bug populations, takes us underwater into the secret world of waterbugs and provides incredible close-up video of waterbugs that you are unlikely to see elsewhere (including time lapse footage of a caddisfly emerging from it’s larvae form).
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The impact of animal poo on our waterways
This article (and video) explains the impact animal poo has on our waterways and makes some interesting comparisons between the impact of native animal poo and exotic animal poo. The article is quite detailed but information can be extracted for younger students. The video is short and simple.
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Barapa Water for Country video
A great video to showcase the importance and value in collaborating with Traditional Owners to understand, explore and heal country by embedding cultural knowledge, skills and aspirations in land management decisions. Follow the journey of the project; See here for a look at how the project began and for more information about its goal to work with the Barapa Cultural Team and identify, map and record the cultural values of the Lower Gunbower Forest to improve the management of environmental water. See here for the 2019 video.
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Deadly and Proud website
Many Aboriginal people use the word “deadly” to mean awesome, strong, brilliant. The many deadly stories of Aboriginal history and cultures are part of our collective identity as Victorians. Students can use this website full of engaging videos to explore and learn by listening to the stories of Aboriginal people around the state. The questions section is also a great place to watch videos that answer some of the most common questions people have about Aboriginal culture.
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Kamarooka Saltland Restoration project fact sheet
This fact sheet will be useful for secondary students to understand the positive impact that strategic revegetation on saline land can make to lower the watertable. Northern United Forestry Group’s Kamarooka Saltland Restoration project site is 30km north of Bendigo. More information about the project can be found here and excursions can be organised by emailing nufg@nufg.org.au
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Nature-scrolling activity
A nature scroll is simply a long, narrow piece of paper used to record your responses to nature, in words and pictures. It can be a portable, bite-sized alternative to nature journalling and a wonderful way for your students to engage with their local environment or make observations whilst at your adopted water testing site. Make it scientific, make it artistic or both !
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The Riparian Revegetator video
The riparian zone is the area between the land and a river or creek. Plants that thrive in this zone are known as riparian vegetation. The Riparian Revegetator tells the story of how, over the last three decades, Paul has transformed his land in Gippsland from a degraded and barren farm into a thriving environment, acting as a critical refuge for the local beasties. This is a great example of what landholders can achieve to enhance the health of waterways
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River Moorabool movie trailer
the River Moorabool was made by People for A Living Moorabool (PALM) and Sheoaks Films. It features local landowners, scientists, and healthy river advocates, as well a spectacular and wide-ranging views of the Moorabool river valley and catchment. This short trailer highlights the issues facing the Moorabool River; declining catchment health, regulation and lack of environmental flows. Note: ideas expressed are those of the producers/presenters to shine a light on the very complex issues involved.
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Desert Lake – The Story of Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre picture book
It’s raining up north and soon everything will change for the desert lake. The dry salt bed of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre shimmers in the desert heat. But far up north, the rains have come. Water is flooding into empty riverbeds and swirling down towards the lake. Soon everything will change. Although Lake Eyre is far from Victoria, this is a beautifully written narrative that explores the unique story of one of Australia’s most amazing phenomenon. It builds an appreciation of the wonder and resilience of nature along with the function of a catchment. There are no online versions of this book but a hard copy or big book version can be ordered at your favourite book store. Alternative teacher notes can be found here.
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Platypus and Litter fact sheet
A simple fact sheet highlighting the horrific facts about litter and platypus and the good news of how we can help.
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Water Cycle activity sheet
Students can use this activity sheet by our friends at Gippsland Water to fill in the gaps and name the water cycle processes then colour it in.
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Why do mass fish deaths occur ? videos
Between December 2018 and January 2019, three mass fish death events happened along a 40km stretch of the Lower Darling River, downstream of Menindee Lakes. Although this event occurred far from us in Victoria it was a highly public and very distressing event for everyone, seeing up to a million fish including 100-year-old Murray cod die in one of the biggest environmental catastrophes to hit the river. The video linked to the title above and this one here help students understand the issues around what happened. Note: views expressed are the opinion of the video producers not River Detectives or any participating CMA. And a warning that some scenes could be distressing for students.
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Linking the Landscape – The Cobaw Biolink video
This video by Newham Landcare promotes the important role of the Cobaw Biolink in enhancing the connections between Mount Macedon and the Cobaw Range on both private and public land. Protecting existing high quality vegetation and creating connectivity in the biolink will help native plants and animals adapt to climate change. The video aims to engage the community and make them aware that their contribution, no matter how big or small, can have a positive impact on the environment on a landscape scale, making catchments and waterways healthier and everything that relies on them.
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Bird Quizzes
Your students will love exploring these three bird quizzes on Birdlife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count website;
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The Water Cycle poster
Use this poster when introducting/discussing the water cycle with students.
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Intergenerational Trauma animation
In Australia, Intergenerational Trauma predominantly affects the children, grandchildren and future generations of the Stolen Generations. This is a confronting topic causing all Australians to reflect on our shared history. Care should be taken about how/when this content is presented but the video from the Healing Foundation is extremely well done and thought-provoking to stimulate conversations with older students.
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Share Our Pride website
This website by Reconciliation Australia provides introductory cultural awareness training to give non-Indigenous people a glimpse into the lives and cultures of Australia’s First People. It has been put together for organisations to consider what they might do differently to build better relationships with Indigenous peoples to show respect for Indigenous Australians and to create opportunities for Indigenous peoples to help close the life expectancy gap and build a stronger Australia. The content is simple and presented in a very user-friendly, engaging format. Users can take the journey through each ‘chapter’ simply by scrolling down and clicking links or selected chapters/videos can be viewed. Note: Please preview content for its suitability to the age group you are teaching.
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The history of Mt Greenock
Time travel back 180 years to rarely visited places and events from the early contact period that marked the beginning of unimaginable loss and trauma for Dja Dja Wurrung people. Join Jaara Elder, Uncle Ricky Nelson and Professor Barry Golding as they stand together and reflect on top of the iconic volcanic slopes of Mount Greenock. This video teaches students a different way to look at their local landscape with fresh eyes and appreciate its history and significance to Aboriginal people. This is one of three videos in this series. You can also watch videos about the Loddon River at Neereman and Merin Merin wetland.
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Traditional life at Merin Merin wetland
Join Jaara Elder, Uncle Ricky Nelson and Professor Barry Golding as they stand together on the top of the iconic volcanic slopes of Mount Greenock and explore the life-providing Merin Merin Wetland near Clunes where kangaroos still graze, highlighting the European and Aboriginal history of the site. This video teaches students a different way to look at their local landscape with fresh eyes and appreciate its history and significance to Aboriginal people. This is one of three videos in this series. You can also watch videos about the Loddon River at Neereman and Mt Greenock.
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Loddon River at Neereman video
Time travel back 180 years to rarely visited places and events from the early contact period that marked the beginning of unimaginable loss and trauma for Dja Dja Wurrung people. Join Jaara Elder, Uncle Ricky Nelson and Professor Barry Golding as they stand together on the top of the iconic volcanic slopes of Mount Greenock to give a fascinating insight into the history of the Loddon River at Neereman near Baringhup and the early interactions between European and Aboriginal people. This video teaches students a different way to look at their local landscape with fresh eyes and appreciate its history and significance to Aboriginal people. A must watch if you’re studying the life and times of the Loddon River. This is one of three videos in this series. You can also watch videos about Merin Merin wetland and Mt Greenock.
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Digital story; If We Care We Can: A Story of How One Glider Helped Save a Forest
‘If We Care We Can’ is a digital children’s story which is freely available online. It is reasonably long, 60 pages, but turn on the audio and it’s perfect to watch/listen to as a serial over several days. It is set in the forests of northern NSW but has many relevant messages for Victorian students. This story is best viewed on a tablet or computer in landscape view.
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City of Greater Bendigo – Our Vision for Reconciliation video
In November 2020, the City of Greater Bendigo launched its new Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025, Barpangu. Meaning ‘build together’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language, Barpangu was developed through conversations and consultation with the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Traditional Owners, the broader local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and City staff. It builds on the success of their first Reconciliation Plan and aims to further advance reconciliation across the municipality. It is great example for students of how organisations can actively work on and promote reconciliation.
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2021 Koorie Education Calendar
Framed around significant events throughout the calendar year, the interactive Koorie Education Calendar has been developed by VAEAI to assist educators and learners alike. The Calendar draws the learner to Victorian Koorie voices, stories and achievements, and features Koorie leaders, artists, authors, playwriters and more. The Koorie Education Calendar is updated annually and can assist schools in planning for key events and locating information about Victorian Koorie cultures, histories and perspectives. Designed to be printed on A3 paper.
We strongly recommend consulting with Aboriginal people and Aboriginal sources for information. Where available, your local LAECG is a good first point of contact and VAEAI can assist with contacts. Try to work with local community people and Elders, and always respect their intellectual and cultural property rights.
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Annual Environmental/Cultural Celebration Dates
Schools and the community are invited to recognise and celebrate significant environmental / cultural days each year; some are regional, some national and some international. Many of these days tie in perfectly with the ethos of the River Detectives program and provide valuable opportunities to broaden and deepen environmental learning, explore curriculum links, make meaningful connections with other organisations and community groups and encourage your students to advocate on a range of environmental and cultural issues. Check out this calendar (embedded with loads of links) and go wild !!
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Easter Basket
While Easter is not an Aboriginal celebration, eggs were a big part of customary life and looking at how Aboriginal people used eggs is a great perspective for all age groups at Easter time. The protocols around egg gathering took into consideration the sustainability of the species producing them. Eggs were respected as a source of life as well as nourishment for mob. Eggs would be collected in vessels weaved by Aboriginal women from the naturally available reeds and materials of the local area. This Easter printable features the artwork of Darug Artist, Chloe Webb.
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River Detectives Program School Plan
Use this School Plan to start a conversation with colleagues delivering the River Detectives program in your setting. This is a great template to use at the start of the year with lots of useful questions to promote thinking and space to document the approach you plan to take. There is also a useful template for sharing your River Detectives data and experience with others at the end of a term/year.
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NAIDOC Week website
The learning resources available to all students through the NAIDOC website are invaluable for teachers and students. The NAIDOC teaching ideas developed by the National NAIDOC Committee relate directly to supporting teachers in addressing The Australian Curriculum: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Culture cross-curriculum priority; with provision of content that can be used across multiple learning areas and stages/grades from Foundational Studies to Year 12. SBS produces a NAIDOC Week Teaching Resource annually for Foundation to Year 10. The Teaching Resource contains concepts relevant to a broad range of learners and topics, and will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in classrooms beyond the dates of NAIDOC Week each year. The 2020 resource is available here and the 2021 resource for the ‘Heal Country’ theme is available here.
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Earth Ovens – Celebrating Aboriginal Intangible Heritage
In November 2016, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, in partnership with Maurizio Campanelli, held Bakang Dyakata – a traditional Aboriginal earth oven recreation event. This annual event, held on the banks of the Wimmera River, brings the community together to cook using traditional techniques and taste native foods. It is an example of the rich intangible heritage of Aboriginal communities in Victoria.
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Connection to Country: Leanganook (Mt Alexander Regional Park) video
Follow Ranger Trent, a proud Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta man, through Leanganook/Mt Alexander Regional Park as he describes the importance of connecting to and caring for Country. A lovely video to see the landscape through a different lens for students in central Victoria.
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Cultural Fire and Healing Yorta Yorta Country video
Listen to Yorta Yorta man Ralph Hume discuss cultural fire and healing country at the 2019 National Indigenous Fire Workshop near Dhungala (Murray River), Victoria, Yorta Yorta Woka (Yorta Yorta Country). A very interesting insight into how the landscape has changed since European settlement, why the riparian environment we see today is not considered healthy by traditional owners and how it can be healed.
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Dja Dja Wurrung Tanderrum cultural ceremony video
This is a powerful video put together when the Dja Dja Wurrung participated in the Melbourne Festival Opening in 2016 at Federation Square. Dja Dja Wurrung traditional owners joined five groups from the Kulin Nation in a tanderrum; a ceremony of welcome and hospitality for visitors to the land of the Kulin Nation. The video highlights the importance of cultural ceremonies to traditional owners, particularly now as a way of healing injustices of the past.
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Campaspe River resource
This guide is a great resource for teachers and older students to understand the Campaspe River; catchment, Aboriginal and European history, flows, health and management. Produced as part of the Caring For The Campaspe project, this guide will be a useful resource for the many schools now engaged with the project through the River Detectives program along the Campapse River.
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Plan of the valley of Bendigo 1858
This map drawn by the District Surveyor, Richard Larritt in 1858 shows the alignment of the Bendigo Creek at the time between Kangaroo Flat and Huntly. Goldmining had already taken a significant toll on the landscape by 1858 but this map from the State Library is possibly the best evidence (besides doing archaeological digs) of the original form of Bendigo Creek. As time went on, the Creek was drastically modified to be what we see today. This is a fascinating insight for students in the Bendigo area.
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Weaving activity
Use natural items found at your local waterway or bushland, in your school yard or home garden to make a weaving like the one pictured at the link above. Hang it somewhere special to connect you with nature.
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What’s In Your Habitat ? activity sheet
Use this simple template to challenge students to sit quietly outside and record what they see, hear and smell using words/sketches.
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Nature Journalling activity
Be inspired by this video by central Victorian Trace Balla and start recording the things you see, hear, touch and smell at your local waterway or anywhere in nature. Sit for a while and observe, notice the small things and hone into colours, sounds, textures, shapes and movement. Sketch, note or photograph your discoveries. Journal throughout a year and record the seasonal changes you observe. This ideas sheet from Paperbark Writer will help get you started too !
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Brolga Bangarra Dance Theatre video
The brolga is a majestic bird of Victoria’s wetlands and has long been held as an important totem in traditional life. Watch a video of brolga’s visiting Tang Tang Swamp or a video about the birth of a brolga in central Victoria then enjoy watching the way the Bangarra Dance Theatre represents brolgas through dance.
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Mandala Art
Making a nature mandala is a great activity to tune into the colours, shapes and textures of natural objects at your waterway. Collect some treasures, plan a design and create a masterpiece. Ideally, this is done by the waterway where collected materials can stay on site. If collecting from your waterway and completing the activity back at school, try to return the materials later. Extension: find objects in nature that are mandalas in themselves. See this article for examples.
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The Water Tribe and Ochre
Proud Wathaurung man Barry Gilson is learning and writing songs in the language of his ancestors – a difficult task because “everything has been lost”. What does he mean by this? He also speaks of how ochre was and is used in Aboriginal ceremonies.
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Soil Salinity in Australia video
This video was produced many years ago now but does a great job of explaining why increasing soil salinity in Australia is a serious land degradation issue. It outlines how all over the country, salt is rising out of the ground and destroying our farms, homes and towns. To understand why we have this problem, the video takes us back in time for a journey through Australia’s history.
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How Does Desalination Work ? video
Perth’s water supplies are under pressure. The reason: declining rainfall in the southwest of Western Australia. Watch this video to tour a desalination plant and learn how sea water is turned into drinking water. With similar plants popping up around Australia, will desalination be the solution to our water shortages?
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What Is A Catchment ? video
This very short video is a simple visual introduction to the concept of a catchment, suitable for all but perfect for younger students.
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Your hand as a catchment
Use this activity sheet to model a catchment with your hand; high points representing hills and wrinkles in your palm representing waterways.
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River Rehab: Protecting Waterways From Livestock video
Watch this video to see how Tasmania’s farmers are taking measures to reduce degradation of the state’s waterways from livestock. This video introduces students to sustainable farming practices that protect waterways and increase farm productivity simultaneously. Draw your own farm plan and illustrate how it can be managed sustainably.
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Where Does Water Go After It Rains ? video
What happens to rainfall in Australia? Water usually flows downhill, and because we know where the hills are, scientists have been able to divide the country into drainage divisions, or catchments. Watch this video to find out which drainage division you’re in, and learn what happens to rainwater that doesn’t make it to the sea.
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Catchment Mind Map
Use this template or use your own method to brainstorm all of the elements that exist within your catchment from natural features such as ranges, waterways, plants and animals to human features such as roads, towns, industry and agriculture and to the ways we enjoy and use the catchment; camping, bike riding, kayaking, sport, etc. This exercise is a good introductory activity (after you’ve established what catchment you are a part of) to highlight all of the elements that need to be functioning well to maintain catchment health and how they are inextricably linked. To extend this activity add arrows/captions to show cause and effect between elements; to demonstrate an unhealthy catchment with negative actions causing negative knock on effects; then compare to a healthy catchment where positive actions cause positive knock on effects.
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Budj Bim eel trap system video
Budj Bim is a dormant volcano in South Western Victoria on Gunditjmara Country. Budj Bim means High Head in the language of Gunditjmara people and is home to one of oldest aquaculture systems in the world. Budj Bim is said to have erupted over 30,000 years ago and the lava flow that resulted created a system of channels that Gunditjmara people developed into weirs, dams and traps for fish and eels. Older students may wish to find out more about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Budj Bim National Park by watching this 30 minute virtual tour presented by the Glenelg Hopkins CMA for the 2020 Victorian Nature Festival.
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Virtual Electrofishing Tour video
Join Arthur Rylah Institute scientists for an electrified virtual field experience. Fishing with electricity (electrofishing) helps us learn more about fish, their habitat and how we can protect them. Arthur Rylah Institute work right around Victoria to surveys rivers, streams and creeks for all kinds of fish. This is one video in a series of incredible 360°perspective, virtual reality (VR) films. The films create virtual, first-hand experiences bringing science and the work of scientists to life. Although these films are best experienced using a VR headset, they are available online (viewing quality will vary depending on your internet connectivity). When viewing on your computer, use your mouse to hover over the video and look around or click on the arrows that are in the upper left-hand corner. Arrows will help guide you to key features of the video we don’t want you to miss, but remember, your time in the field is your own, and you can always revisit and explore other parts of the video. Visit here for other videos in the series.
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Virtual Turtle Trapping in the Barmah-Millewa Forest video
Join DELWP scientists for an immersive field experience trapping for turtles in the Barmah-Millewa Forest on the Murray River. They’re monitoring the health of turtles to better understand how we can reverse the population decline of turtles in the area. This is one video in a series of incredible 360°perspective, virtual reality (VR) films. The films create virtual, first-hand experiences bringing science and the work of scientists to life. Although these films are best experienced using a VR headset, they are available online (viewing quality will vary depending on your internet connectivity). When viewing on your computer, use your mouse to hover over the video and look around or click on the arrows that are in the upper left-hand corner. Arrows will help guide you to key features of the video we don’t want you to miss, but remember, your time in the field is your own, and you can always revisit and explore other parts of the video. Visit here for other videos in the series.
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The artistry and ingenuity of bird nests video
Whilst visiting your waterway each month for water quality testing you might notice the building and use of bird nests as a key seasonal change. Bird nests are endlessly fascinating and we can learn much about the skill, patience, resilience, artistry and ingenuity of birds by learning about the way they build and use nests. Although this is an American video it is a great resource to showcase the many different types of nests that birds build around the world. There are also some great picture story books about bird nests; Bird Builds A Nest by Martin Jenkins, Birds Build Nests by Yvonne Winer and Mama Built A Little Nest by Jennifer Ward. Watch this video of nest building up close or challenge students to gather materials and try building their own nest – it’s harder than they might think !
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Seasonal Calendars
Aboriginal people traditionally lived by seasonal calendars not dictated by the conventions of summer, autumn, winter and spring but by the changes they observed in nature throughout a year. This is one example of a Kulin Nation seasonal calendar. You might be able to source one that is more specific to the traditional owners of your area ? Click here for an outline of the Wotjobaluk seasonal calendar for the Wimmera-Mallee area or view another version at the Visit Grampians website. Click here to watch a video about Dja Dja Wurrung seasons. Keep observations of your waterway and local catchment throughout a year with your students and make your own text or pictorial calendar inspired by a traditional seasonal version or this riparian/agricultural example from the North Central CMA. . . . .or combine the two !
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The Wing Thing bird booklets
Print off one of four Wing Thing bird booklets packed with facts and activities for upper primary students; Shorebirds Woodland Birds Beach Nesting Birds Threatened Mallee Birds
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Bird-inspired fashion
If you were a bird, which one would you be ? Why ? Choose your favourite bird or the bird that represents you best due to it’s personality, appearance or behaviour. Study its colours and find items with matching colours in your wardrobe to represent its colourful plumage and be a ‘bird’ for a day. A great idea for National Bird Week in October or for good fun anytime.
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Bird Call Bingo
Use this bingo sheet and play respective calls from the Victorian Fauna Field Guide App in random order to see who can match calls to the pictures best. Make your own bingo sheet of favourite birds in your local area.
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Backyard Bird Bingo
A very simple activity sheet to involve young students in an assessing their school, waterway, home, etc for not only birds but the qualities of good bird habitat; plants and prey.
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Nest Boxes for Wildlife
Use this website for all you need to know about nest boxes; nest box designs, installation tips and monitoring methods. Making and monitoring nest boxes is a great project for students and a fantastic way to enhance habitat at your waterway, school, home, local park, etc.
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Platypus in Peril video
This video from our friends in the Upper Murray area explores the challenges platypus populations are facing and outlines the practical things that can be done to help. Features Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy.
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Backyard Birds of Victoria
This great resource can be used as a identification chart for students to begin their birdwatching adventures and the second page is an excellent fact sheet with tips on bringing back birdlife to our parks, homes and gardens.
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Melbourne Water Platypus Program
This short video provides some great information about the physical features of the unique platypus, their diet, habitat, threats, what is being done to help them and what we can all do to contribute.
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Bird colouring sheets
Birds can be thought of as ‘nature’s flying rainbows’. Colour these fact sheets or use them to inspire your own drawings and make a bird mobile or bird bunting to decorate your classroom, bedroom or garden: galah, pelican, rainbow bee-eater, red-capped parrot, star finch, variegated fairy-wren.
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Edithvale-Seaford Wetland video series
These six educational videos focus on the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands in the Melbourne Water area, exploring their fauna and flora, rich history, role in providing drainage, and the community groups who play a key role in caring for them. Get a well-rounded understanding of the wetland’s many diverse roles, by watching the full video series: Animals of the wetland Birds of the wetland Drainage story of the wetland Friends of the wetlands History of the wetland Plants of the wetland
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Animals of the Wetland video
Learn how wetlands support a variety of wildlife — including birds, reptiles, frogs, fish and bugs — which are all part of a complex food web. Filmed at the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands in the Melbourne Water area the content is true for most wetlands. This is one of six educational wetlands videos featuring the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands.
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Surveying for platypus using eDNA video
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a non-invasive sampling technique that detects genetic material from a target species secreted into the surrounding environment (e.g. water). During 2020 the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network conducted the Platypus Project aimed to address the lack of contemporary knowledge about platypus and blackfish populations by investigating the current distribution of platypus and blackfish throughout the upper Campaspe area of the North Central CMA region using eDNA. Senior ecologist and platypus expert Dr Josh Griffiths from EnviroDNA led the project and provided the technical knowledge and advice to Citizen Scientists participating in this Project. Here he tells us all about it in a fascinating 14 minute video perfect for older students.
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Why waterbirds don’t get soggy video
A great video from the Deep Look youtube channel looking at the waterproof qualities of feathers. Ducks and geese spend a lot of time preening their feathers. This obsessive grooming – and a little styling wax from a hidden spot on their back side – maintains the microscopic feather structure that keeps them warm and dry in chilly waters.
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Backyard Buddies website
If you are looking to find out more about the native fauna and flora at your waterway, home, school, etc this website is a great place to start. ‘Explore‘ your own piece of wilderness by reading profiles about native birds, bugs/insects, mammals, frogs, reptiles and some plant families. Get busy with a project and ‘Create‘ buddy habitats for birds, bugs/insects, mammals, frogs, reptiles and plants. Use the tips to ‘Help‘ a backyard buddy.
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The Best Beak in Boonaroo Bay picture story book
This picture story book by Narelle Oliver is perfect for understanding how animals, in this case birds, have evolved over time to possess bodies that are just right for finding and eating their favourite foods. The birds in this watery environment all compete for the title of the ‘best beak’ but discover that they all have the best beak for their own needs. Use this book as a springboard to studying the adaptions of animals to survive – the ‘feathery friends’ activity is a small way to start with younger students.
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Plants of the Wetland video
Learn why plants are important to a wetland, and how some were used by indigenous people for food, fibre and medicine. Filmed at the Edithvale-Seaford wetlands where there are 87 plant species with records of Aboriginal use, this is a great video for students in any region to understand the role wetland plants play. This is one of six educational wetlands videos featuring the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands.
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Frogs of the Wimmera slideshow
This very informative powerpoint presentation was put together by the Wimmera CMA as a PD for River Detectives educators in that region during 2020. It is full of information, graphics and useful links for teachers to brush up their own skills and arm themselves with content and resources to teach students about frogs.
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Louie and Snippy: Save the Sea picture story book
Louie and Snippy: Save Our Seas by Collette Dinnigan is a story of a little boy whose love of the ocean takes him, and the reader, on an incredible underwater journey. Louie and his trusty companion, Snippy the dog, dive into the ocean and are surrounded by brilliant coral reefs. But they soon discover that human rubbish – bottles, plastic straws and plastic bags – have trapped fish and other creatures. What will Louie be inspired to do? What will you be inspired to do ? A great book for younger readers to highlight the problem facing our oceans and to explore the links between our waterways and where our rubbish travels. Grab a copy of the book or enjoy this online reading.
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How the Murray River was made
Many of the waterways in northern Victoria enter the Murray River. Enjoy this re-telling of the story as it has been come to be learned by Narjiic Day-Burns.
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Fern Hames the Fish Lady video
Fern Hames, Murray Darling Basin Authority Native Fish Strategy Co-Ordinator for Victoria, explains that because of the change of river flows, human water usage and the introduction of non-native fish species, there has been a 90% reduction of native fish numbers since the 1860 Burke and Wills expedition passed this area. A short engaging video with some great facts about native fish; Silver Perch and Murray Cod; and introduced fish; Carp and Weather Loaches.
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Garden Habitats for Small Aussie Birds
This video highlights suitable plants for three groups of small Australian birds; small honeyeaters, small insect-eaters and small seed-eaters. Boosting bird habitat at home, at school, at your River Detectives test site or in your local community is a great project to help our native feathered friends. You may even be able to attract grant funding !
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Tarrengower and Lalgambook: A teaching from the Jaara Jaara
As part of North Central CMA’s 2020 NAIDOC week celebrations, Aunty Marilyne Nicholls spent time on Country at beautiful Tarrengower to share this special creation story of a Dja Dja Wurrung storyline from central Victoria. This book was created by the kids at The Meeting Place and proudly published by Nalderun.
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Uncle Bryon Powell Interview on the Barwon River, Wadawurrung Country
In this extended interview Uncle Bryon Powell, Wadawurrung Elder and Chair of Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation, discusses the significance of bark canoes, the impacts of colonisation and the changes to the river landscape for Wadawurrung (Wathaurung) people, and hypothesises what life must have been like for a Wadawurrung man who helped a white domestic servant cross the Barwon River in the 1840s. Please note this is an audio interview, not video. For other cultural/historical videos, documents, photos, etc about waterways near you, type the name of your creek/river into the search bar of the Collection Search tab of the Culture Victoria website. You’ll be amazed at what you find !
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Rick Nelson Interview at Bet Bet Creek, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
In this extended interview Rick Nelson, Jaara descendant, is interviewed by Lucinda Horrocks on the banks of the Bet Bet Creek, in Eddington, Victoria, part of the traditional land of the Dja Dja Wurrung language peoples. Please note this is an audio interview, not video. Rick talks about how Aboriginal bark canoes were made and what they were used for in the swamps and waterways of Dja Dja Wurrung language country. He talks about the impacts of colonisation and the gold rush on the landscape on the lives of Dja Dja Wurrung people. Lucinda and Rick discuss the life of ‘King Tommy’, an Aboriginal man who lived close by, never far from the Loddon River, in the 19th century. For other cultural/historical videos, documents, photos, etc about waterways near you, type the name of your creek/river into the search bar of the Collection Search tab of the Culture Victoria website. You’ll be amazed at what you find !
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Ten ways to improve the natural assets on a farm
Sustainable Farms is delighted to launch a new booklet, Ten ways to improve the natural assets on a farm. The booklet highlights ten discrete projects that landholders can undertake to improve the health of natural assets – such as dams, shelterbelts or riparian areas – on their properties. The Ten Ways booklet highlights how one small change on a farm could create new habitat for native animals and lead to increased stock productivity. And these changes don’t have to be onerous or expensive – simply fencing a paddock tree or rocky outcrop can help protect these sensitive assets for the future. This booklet, although written for adults, is a user-friendly guide for teachers and secondary students with information to inspire environmental action.
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Geographic Concepts for a Floodplain and Catchment powerpoint slides
Want to know what some basic floodplain Geographic terms and concepts mean? Jeanie Clark from the Wimmera CMA put together the following three presentations to introduce the basic Geographic terms in a riverine landscape to teachers with little geographic training. Click on the links below to access each one. The slides could also be used with upper primary/secondary students. The Jeparit Showgrounds, Jeparit Primary School’s Waterwatch/ River Detectives site, was used as a local example to describe:
Jeanie is an ex-VCE Geography teacher and can be contacted through the Wimmera CMA for advice/support (time permitting).
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Aussie Backyard Bird Scavenger Hunt activity
Use this ID sheet to enjoy the fun of birdwatching on your own, with others, anywhere, anytime. This simple sheet can be an introduction to more birding fun using the BirdData app to complete seasonal bird surveys or by participating in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count in October each year.
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Aussie Backyard Bird Count App
BirdLife Australia has created the Aussie Backyard Bird Count app for participation in Australia’s nationwide bird survey. For one week each year near the end of October, as part of National Bird Week, thousands of people get to know their local birds and help Birdlife Australia discover how our birds are getting on. It only takes 20 minutes in your backyard, neighbourhood park, or favourite green patch to be a part of this exciting event. You can use the Field Guide year round to learn more about your feathered friends.
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Aussie Backyard Bird Count
The Aussie Backyard Bird Count is an annual citizen-science event held in National Bird Week (October). It is a great way to connect with the birds in your backyard no matter where your backyard happens to be — a suburban backyard, a local park, a patch of forest, down by the beach, or the main street of town. You can use the App to do as many 20-minute surveys as you like over the week with the data collected assisting BirdLife Australia understand more about the birds that live where people live. Use the lesson plans to explore birdwatching at school. Check out an infographic of the 2020 results for some great maths stats.
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An introduction to identifying waterbugs with the Waterbug App
This hour-long video was recorded in 2020 for a Melbourne Water webinar series. John Gooderham is a lead expert and creator of the National Waterbug Blitz and the knowledge he shares in this webinar could be very useful for upper secondary students or teachers wishing to improve their identification skills and expertise with the Waterbug App.
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Discover Ducks
Did you know that Australia is home to 15 native duck species? Yet five in six Victorians can’t name a single one! The ‘Discover Ducks’ website wants to change this and build a nation of duck lovers who are passionate and knowledgeable about our native ducks. Head to this website to; learn about iconic Victorian duck species, learn how to care for ducks, use the duck detector guide to go duck spotting, use the duck detector map to find out where ducks have been spotted or add your own sighting, challenge yourself to the ‘know your ducks quiz’ or complete a fun survey to discover which duck you are.
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Climate Change activity book and game
ADAPT Loddon Mallee have produced a Kids Climate Change Activity Book, including a climate change snakes and ladders game, for middle to upper primary school students filled with interactive puzzles and a story that follows Griffin the Growling Grass Frog on his mission to discover why the Loddon Mallee landscape is changing and his wetlands are drying up. Many children are engaged with environmental issues including climate change, but often resources are nationally or globally based leaving people feeling powerless to take action. By keeping the story local and providing activities and choices the children can make at home, they may feel more positive about what they can do to make an impact. If you are a school in the Loddon Mallee region and would like to register your school for free hard copies visit the ADAPT Loddon Mallee website.
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Waterwise; Innovations In Water Management video
Could Melbourne/Victoria run out of water? In this 43 minute video for secondary students, environmental educator Arron Wood, from Kids Teaching Kids, travels the state to see what’s being done to ensure our water supply in the future and shows just how finely balanced this supply will be. He talks with farmers, town planners, irrigators and park rangers, tours the desalination plant, goes underground at the MCG and learning more about the Werribee sewage treatment plant to see how recycled water is being used for industry and in new housing developments.
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Waterbug Discovery video
Join Deirdre and Kristen from Corangamite CMA for a great introduction to waterbugs in the Corangamite region. Get to know your regional River Detective staff, how to conduct a sampling session and the creatures you might find. For lower primary students, pause the video to read the text slides aloud. The Now and Then resource referred to is also found on the River Detectives website.
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Water Cycle word find
A great activity from Gippsland Water to practise spelling, undertstand the water cycle or fill time in a meaningful way during your water studies.
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Daylesford Water Treatment Plant video
Take a virtual tour of the Daylesford Water Treatment Plant !
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Catchment to tap video
This video has been produced by Central Highlands Water but the majority of content is relevant to all areas of the state. It features simple explanations of a catchment, the water cycle, how water is shared between users and how water is treated to make it safe in our urban water system.
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Make a water filter video and experiment
Join Fernando from Barwon Water as he guides students through the process of making a water filter using common household items. This experiment will help students understand how the water cycle provides the water we all need for drinking and how water corporations clean this water for us to drink from our tap. Teacher notes available.
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Make the water cycle in a bag video and experiment
Join Wally the Water Scientist and Kristy from Goulburn Valley Water to learn how to view the water cycle in a zip lock bag ! A great activity to bring the water cycle to life. Teacher notes provide the blackline masters you need.
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Make your own rain gauge video and experiment
Join Wally the Water Scientist and Kristy from Goulburn Valley Water to learn how to make a rain gauge and why tracking rainfall is an interesting and informative activity. A great activity to connect maths, science and environmental learning.
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Water Cycle Meditation no. 2
This guide is useful if you would prefer to step your own class through a water cycle meditation. Teacher notes include a mindfulness colouring sheet and instructions to make a calming jar. Alternatively you can play an audio of the meditation thanks to Barwon Water.
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Edible aquifer video and experiment
Join Meg Humphrys, author and illustrator of ‘When Water Lost Her Way’ (see Photo/Story Book section of Resource River Bank) for a wonderful edible aquifer experiment students can do to understand groundwater and the water table. Delicious and educational at the same time !
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Sharing culture across Wadawurrung country video
ABC’s ‘This Place’ project invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to create a short video about a place name, and the story behind it. Bryon Powell takes us on a journey across Wadawurrung country, sharing some of the stories behind its place names. His country stretches from the mountains to the sea. It includes hills, rivers and grassy plains, creeks and coasts and includes modern towns such as Werribee, Geelong and Ballarat in Victoria. Search for other videos of cultural stories about waterways across regional Australia at the ABC TV Education website, on ABC iview or at the ABC Indigenous youtube channel.
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Sharing culture at Barengi Djul (Wimmera River) video
ABC’s ‘This Place’ project invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to create a short video about a place name, and the story behind it. The Wimmera River is known as Barengi Djul in Wergaia language spoken by the Wotjobaluk people. Along the water, not far from the township of Dimboola is a special place known as Ackle Bend or Wutiyeti which means camping place, and is also known for its stories of Bunyip. Search for other videos of cultural stories about waterways across regional Australia at the ABC TV Education website, on ABC iview or at the ABC Indigenous youtube channel.
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Seeing the land from an Aboriginal canoe video
This 10 minute video gives a wonderful insight into the way 19th century European settlers depended on Aboriginal navigators and canoe builders to transport goods, stock and people. This short documentary film explores the little known contribution Aboriginal people made in colonial times across the river systems of Victoria. It features interviews with the historian Associate Professor Fred Cahir and Traditional Owners Uncle Bryon Powell, Jamie Lowe and Rick Nelson. For other cultural/historical videos, documents, photos, etc about waterways near you, type the name of your creek/river into the search bar of the Collection Search tab of the Culture Victoria website. You’ll be amazed at what you find !
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Waterbugs and water quality video
This 5 minute video from the Envirotube youtube channel explains how waterbugs are important indicators of water quality and habitat diversity and how changes in waterway health can impact them.
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Introducing waterbugs video
This short 3 minute video by Priya from Melbourne Water is a fabulous tool to introduce waterbugs to your students; what they are, how they live, their wonderful adaptions, why they are so important to the aquatic ecosystem and how they can help us assess water quality and habitat diversity.
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Advanced identification key (using Agreed Level Taxonomy)
This more advanced key can be used with secondary students to identify waterbugs using a more detailed and scientific process. It is an alternative to some of the other simpler id charts, keys and digital options found in the Help Me Test -Waterbugs area of the website.
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Make your own window sill pond
This series of videos takes you on a journey watching the development of a window sill pond over three weeks. Take a look then give it a go with your students ! See how the pond evolves during Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3.
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How to take great waterbug photos with your device
This video by waterbug guru John Gooderham of The Waterbug Company is full of tips and tricks to take great photos of macroinvertebrates with an iphone when using The Waterbug App for identification. Designed so that photos can be uploaded as part of the National Waterbug Blitz program, this video is just as relevant for River Detectives to study waterbugs and record findings digitally.
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How beetles breathe under water video
A great video from the Deep Look youtube channel analysing the adaptions beetles have developed to survive and thrive in their aquatic environments. Students will love this peek into the amazing world of water beetles. Check out Deep Look on youtube for other fascinating videos about the lives of terrestrial bugs.
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Water Striders up close video
A great video from the Deep Look youtube channel analysing the various ways that water striders have evolved to become expert hunters of their aquatic prey. Students will love this peek into the amazing world of water striders. Check out Deep Look on youtube for other fascinating videos about the lives of terrestrial bugs.
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Water Spider v Water Strider video
A great video from the Monster Bug Wars youtube channel showcasing the unique adaptions of water striders and how they would match up in a battle against a water spider.
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Resourcing your macroinvertebrate sampling kit
Autumn and/or Spring are great times to sample with students. Sampling equipment can be borrowed from your Regional River Detectives Coordinator. Contact them to book it ahead of time. Ideally it’s wonderful to sample several times a year and across different seasons so students can practise their skills regularly and observe patterns/changes. Having your own sampling equipment at school ready to go means that you’re more likely to grab opportunities to conduct macro sampling without the hassle of borrowing equipment. Most equipment is readily available but specialised equipment such as a sampling net and picking trays can be purchased at The Waterbug Shop (a great use of grant funding/sponsorship if you have a supportive local Landcare group or business) To set up your own kit use this guide.
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Reimagining Our Water Future activity matrix
As part of the River Detective Program’s participation in the statewide 2020 National Water Week Online Learning Festival we put this activity matrix together to offer engaging, multi-age, cross-curricular activities using a variety of learning styles to explore the theme; ‘Reimagining Our Water Future’. The matrix is a compilation of challenges from a suite of activity matrices under development by the River Detectives program available for registered RD participants and located in this website under the Dive Deeper tab (login required). Use the matrix to enjoy National Water Week or anytime !
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SBAT with the NCCMA
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) are available for high school students over the age of 15 years. Students work for an employer and train towards a recognised qualification while completing their secondary schooling and studying for their VCE or VCAL. The North Central CMA have hosted three students during 2020 helping them build connection to their culture, environmental knowledge and skills, self confidence and career pathways. If you’re an older student looking for inspiration this video shows how SBAT and natural resource management organisations can work together for great outcomes.
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On The River picture story book
This book is a delight for all ages from the creator of the bestselling At the Beach series. Follow the mighty Murray River from its smallest beginnings in the mountains to where it meets the sea on an epic journey with Roland Harvey and his pelican friend, in this glorious picture book full of humorous, intricate illustrations and fascinating information. Together they discover the story of the river: its secrets, history, ecology, people and animals. And you’re invited, too! There are no online versions of this book but a hard copy can be ordered at your favourite book store. Teacher’s notes are available along with a worksheet for younger readers.
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You And Me, Murrawee picture story book
You And Me, Murrawee by Kerri Hashmi is a simple yet very powerful story for primary aged children about the rhythms of daily life beside a river and the many reasons we enjoy time by the water. It highlights the timeless appeal of rivers, the constant yet ever-evolving circle of life for people/plants/animals and prompts us to evaluate modern and traditional life through the subtle revelation that the characters are living 200 years apart. Murrawee means ‘elder sister’ in the language of the Ngarrindjeri people from the Murray River in South Australia but this story is set at an unnamed river and can be used in any location. Enjoy this online reading of the story or purchase the book at your favourite book store. Teacher notes for the story are not available but endless learning opportunities abound.
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City of Kingston Stormwater Treatment and Reuse Project video
Watch this short video to see how the City of Kingston (Melbourne) are minimising flooding in the low-lying suburb of Edithvale by capturing stormwater, filtering it and reusing it to enhance the suburb. A great example of innovative design helping people and the environment.
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Stormwater Harvesting at Fitzroy Gardens video
Each year, 120 million litres of water are used to water the Fitzroy Gardens. Since installing a state-of-the-art stormwater harvesting system Melbourne City Council have reduced the use of top quality mains drinking water by 60%. This fantastic video brings diagrams to life showing each step in the process.
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Innovative Stormwater Solution videos
There are many inspiring programs using innovative inventions and multi-media campaigns to prevent stormwater pollution and raise community awareness of the issue. Check out ‘trash traps’ at the linked title above or any of the following; ‘sea bins‘, ‘drain socks‘, ‘soundscapes‘, ‘litter trackers‘, ‘rain gardens‘ and ‘stormwater stencils‘. Challenge students to do a PMI or venn diagram to compare and contrast each approach.
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Reusing Stormwater video
It’s estimated that every year Australian cities produce enough stormwater to fill Sydney Harbour six times over, but only 3 per cent of it is reused. Water-sensitive urban design values stormwater as an asset, not a problem. In this 11 minute video hear from experts about changes we can make in our own backyards to increase our water supply and cut down on pollution and flooding. Use the ideas to redesign a house, street or housing estate in your area . . . .
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Ocean Pollution videos
Regardless of where you are in the state, it is very important for your students to understand how the rubbish they drop could potentially end up in the ocean. The linked title will take you to a short video about the Pacific Ocean garbage dump. Alternatively you can view a 24 minute documentary, “A Plastic Wave” or a movie length documentary on Netflix, “A Plastic Ocean”. Please be aware that ocean pollution and its impact on sea creatures can introduce disturbing images and information to students – please choose appropriately for different age groups and implement with care.
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Stormwater Harvesting video
Many Australian towns and cities struggle with drought and desperately try to find new ways to get water. One of the answers might be under our feet! Every year billions of litres of rain flows down gutters and into drains. To change that, councils are being encouraged to recycle stormwater. This old (but still useful) Behind The News video looks at how stormwater harvesting could make better use of water – our most precious resource.
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Urban Stormwater Journey photos
This series of five photos and short explanations clearly illustrate the journey of rainfall from an urban roof, road or footpath into a nearby waterway.
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Stormwater Pollution – The Dirty Truth: Home Activities video
This short animated video from The Dirty Truth website explains how our home activities can impact waterways via urban stormwater discharge; use of pesticides/fertilisers, rinsing paintbrushes, unsecured building materials, oil leaks from cars, litter and dog poo that is not disposed of correctly.
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Stormwater Pollution – The Dirty Truth: Home Car Washing video
This short animated video from The Dirty Truth website explains the impact of car washing on hard surfaces where detergents can flow down stormwater drains and end up in our waterways.
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Rubbish In The River envirostory
This example of a student-written/illustrated book comes from the Enviro-Stories website. It is a great example of how the River Detectives program can be embedded into the curriculum and inspire literacy projects. The topics are endless for solo/group writing challenges. Check out the enviro-story library for more ideas regardless of how books are eventually published.
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Microplastics in our oceans video
This short video helps students understand how microplastic pollution is generated, how it ends up in oceans and the way it can travel through the food chain to us. It also provides positive ways we can all help to reduce microplastic pollution. Please be aware that content about the potential impact of microplastics on humans may cause anxiety for some students.
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Microplastics in our streams video
This video takes us on a journey with scientists conducting field research on the microplastics being washed down our waterways. It could provide inspiration to conduct research at your own waterway about the prevalence of these tiny but damaging pieces of pollution . . .
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Where does stormwater go ? animation
This animated video from Canberra is a highly effective way to outline the chain of events from rainfall, through the stormwater system, to waterways. It uses simple graphics to mathematically represent the volume of water that can be harvested this way and focuses on the many effective strategies that can be put in place by councils, land developers,etc to minimise any negative impacts of urban stormwater.
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Stormwater animation
This animated video from Dubbo Regional Council is an engaging way to highlight where stormwater comes from, what pollutants might travel into waterways and their impact on water quality and aquatic plants/animals.
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Wilam: A Birrarung Story
Wilam: A Birrarung Story is written by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly and illustrated by Lisa Kennedy. It tells the Indigenous and geographical story of Melbourne’s Yarra River, from its source to its mouth, from its pre-history to the present day and includes words from the Woiwurrung language. There are no online versions of this book but a hard copy can be ordered at your favourite book store. Comprehensive cross-curricular teacher’s notes are a wonderful guide to implementing this beautiful book in the classroom.
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Urban Stormwater photos
These photos of stormwater sources, stormwater pits/pipes/swales, stormwater pollution, impacts of pollution, pollution prevention strategies and stormwater management solutions can be used as a springboard for discussion, in conjunction with lessons in the Urban Stormwater Environmental Education Resource (see Topics-Urban Water) or with some of the activities on the Urban Stormwater/Rural Runoff activity matrix found under the Dive Deeper tab.
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Catchment/Waterway photos
These photos of catchments, healthy and threatened waterways, wetlands and rehabilitation strategies can be used as a springboard for discussion, in conjunction with lessons in the Waterways Environmental Education Resource (see Topics-Waterways) or with some of the activities on the Waterways activity matrix found under the Dive Deeper tab.
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Victorian Water Corporations map
Although the role of water corporations is different to CMA’s (who manage urban water), there is a shared interest in water health/management and the two sectors collaborate regularly. Of great interest to the River Detectives program is the wonderful education services that these water corporations often offer with incursions, excursions, teaching resources and activity sheets for students of all ages looking at urban water, the water cycle and water conservation. Use this map to see which urban water corporation zone your town/school falls in. Head to the group/organisation section of Resource Riverbank for a link to the education tab of each corporation’s website. Consider getting in touch to access their programs, broaden your studies of water and value add to the River Detectives program.
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North East Water education program
For schools in the North East CMA region, North East Water offer incursions, excursions and resources for students and teachers to educate about urban water, the water cycle and saving water.
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Barwon Water education program
For schools in the Corangamite CMA region, Barwon Water offer a free comprehensive education program including water-related incursions, excursions and resources for early childhood to tertiary students. You can also sign up for their e-newsletters.
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Central Highlands Water education program
For schools in the south-western part of the north central CMA region and the northern part of the Corangamite CMA region, Central Highlands Water offer free education programs and learning materials for schools and community groups. Topics include; water (source to tap), water efficiency, choose Tap and recycled water and wastewater.
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GWM Water education program
For schools in the Wimmera, GWM Water offers a range of water-based activities, experiments, fact sheets, puzzles and fun recipes specific to your region. They also encourage schools to enter the annual National Water Week poster competition.
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Now and Then waterbug guide
This booklet was produced quite some time ago by Corangamite CMA but remains a fantastic resource with waterbug profiles including fantastic photos showing the scale of bugs compared to a five cent piece, life cycle sketches, did you know facts and sketches/descriptions of the six main types of waterbug mouthparts (useful graphics for student research projects). Information and graphics from this booklet have also been used to produce our Waterbug Fact Sheets.
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Wetland Illustration
This illustration can be printed at A3 size to outline the important values of wetlands and highlight the factors that threaten their health.
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Coliban Water Education website
For schools in the north central region, Coliban Water offer incursions teach students about the value of water, how to use water wisely and wastewater management. They also provide free print and online teaching resources for use in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. Sign up to their education newsletter to keep in touch with their latest news.
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“Rivertime” picture story book
Rivertime by Trace Balla follows the adventures of Clancy who goes on a paddling adventure down the Glenelg River in the Wimmera CMA region with his bird-watching uncle. It is a story about slowing down (‘rivertime’), growing up and connecting with the land and its creatures. It’s also a fantastic launching pad for doing some birdwatching at your waterwatch site. There are no online versions of this book but a hard copy can be ordered at your favourite book store. The story can be read as a class but is best enjoyed by individuals to read and reflect at their own pace, pore over the detailed illustrations and enjoy every comic-style speech bubble. Teacher Notes provide suggested activities for middle/upper primary students or use this Rivertime-inspired pocket birdwatching guide by Trace Balla to inspire your students to make a guide for your area !
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“The Rhythm of the Rain” picture story book
The Rhythm of the Rain by Graham Baker-Smith is a magical book for any educator to launch a lesson or a unit on the water cycle, on the geography of our planet, on the diversity on our planet…there are so many themes hidden within. This story will stretch students’ imaginations, their curiosity, their appreciation of the amazing natural world that surrounds us and nourishes us. Thanks to Alice from Coliban Water in the north central region you can watch a reading of the book as a springboard to other discussions and activities around the water cycle, catchments and the responsibility we all share around the world to conserve water for everyone. Use the links above and below this post to access your local water authority and get involved in their education resources and incursions.
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“Water is Water” picture story book
Water is Water by Miranda Paul is a lovely book for lower primary exploring the water cycle, the ways we experience water in all it’s forms; rain, steam, fog, frost, snow, puddles; and how we use water for fun, gardening, drinking, etc. Thanks to Alice from Coliban Water in the north central region you can watch a reading of the book as a springboard to other discussions and activities around water. Use the links above and below this post to access your local water authority and get involved in their education resources and incursions.
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Exploring the Water Cycle lesson plans
Lesson plans to help use the story, “When Water Lost Her Way” in the classroom or at home. All plans focus on relevant parts of the story for group discussion based on the Australian Curriculum and reference the Victorian curriculum where possible. The lesson plans include targeted questions, suggested extension activities with supporting external resources based on achievement standards of the Australian curriculum. Targeted plans are developed for Foundation to Year 6.
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Water Cycle Meditation
A meditation for kids and grown ups that takes you on a journey through the water cycle. Content is loosely based on the picture story book ‘When Water Lost Her Way’ written and illustrated by Meg Humphrys.
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“When Water Lost Her Way” picture story book
This is a powerful story by Meg Humphrys of ‘water’ questioning who she is. She seeks all parts of her cycle for answers until an ‘old tree’ helps her to understand her place in the world and her many interconnections with all living and non-living things. This book is a must-have in the school library, however you can enjoy the online reading or read the digital version yourself. Indulge in water cycle meditation, discuss extension questions or explore enquiry based lesson plans based on the story. During National Water Week 2020, Meg was interviewed and the video is a great way to further children’s engagement with this book and the water cycle (they’ll love the edible aquifer idea !)
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North East CMA region map
The North East CMA region is one of ten CMA regions of Victoria. This map shows the myriad of waterways that exist from the mountains to the Murray, the major towns and the dams that support them.
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Environmental Water in Northern Victoria
Many of Victoria’s rivers and wetlands have been modified to provide water vital for farms, homes and industry. Water for the environment also benefits communities by improving conditions for fishing, camping and canoeing. Improved water quality can have economic benefits for irrigation and urban water supply. This map shows how water for the environment will help improve and protect plants and animals in northern Victoria in 2020-21.
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Importance of the Ground Storey
This resource developed by Goulburn-Broken CMA highlights the importance of ground storey to native fauna and catchments. Ground storey is the layer of leaf litter and woody debris found on the ground and is often misunderstood as a mess or fire risk that must be cleaned up. This guide with stunning nature photography can be used as a series of fact sheets for teacher background or student research.
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Traditional Owners of Australia – text version
This is a different take on standard maps showing the traditional owner areas across Australia with groups displayed as text rather than shaded colours. It’s an extremely effective way of showing the diversity of Aboriginal cultures.
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“Where’s Our Water” digital picture story book
This book came out of a project co-ordinated by Hunter Water in NSW. Although it is not local, the story has valuable messages that apply to any catchment and the project is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when students work closely with traditional owners. Where’s Our Water? has been written for primary school students in the Lower Hunter region to teach them about the value of water as a precious resource and that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for it to ensure we have enough now and into the future. Hunter Water has collaborated with both the Awabakal and Worimi communities to create this new story that draws on their traditional wisdom and practices of caring for our land and waterways. You can also watch a video about the project.
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NCCMA region Traditional Owner map
This map (current July 2020) shows the Traditional Owners within the North Central CMA region and it’s catchments.
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Richardson River’s Journey posters
These two posters are an excellent resource for staff and students to familiarise themselves with the Richardson River – it’s; source, path, reaches, catchment, major towns, history, most notable features, flora, fauna and users. The engaging format, stunning photos and user-friendly text makes it the perfect tool for teacher background, student-lead research and learning about an important waterway in the north central region.
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Re-snagging posters
These two posters are invaluable to explain the importance of in-stream woody habitat to native fish and explains some of the important work that is taking place in the lower Loddon River and the Little Murray River as part of the north central CMA’s native fish recovery plan. Features include great photos, fact files, information and an excellent diagram outlining the threats and values in a waterway that impact on fish health.
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Coliban River’s Journey poster
This poster is an excellent resource for staff and students to familiarise themselves with the Coliban River – it’s; source, path, catchment, major towns, history, most notable features, flora, fauna and users. The engaging format, stunning photos and user-friendly text makes it the perfect tool for teacher background, student-lead research and learning about an important waterway in the north central region.
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Water Birds of the Loddon River poster
This is a wonderful poster showcasing six of the most important native water bird species of the Loddon River. It features a map of the Loddon River and its catchment and fact files on six water bird species outlining; appearance, size, life cycle, habitat, diet, breeding, behaviour, calls and conservation status. Use the Natureblitz App to listen to calls and record sightings.
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Frogs of the Loddon River poster
This is a wonderful poster showcasing six of the most important native frog species of the Loddon River. It features a map of the Loddon River and its catchment and fact files on six frog species outlining; appearance, size, life cycle, habitat, diet, breeding, behaviour, calls and conservation status. Use the Natureblitz App to listen to frog calls and record sightings.
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Fish of the Loddon River poster
This is a wonderful poster showcasing six of the most important native fish species of the Loddon River. It features a map of the Loddon River and its catchment and fact files on six fish species outlining; appearance, size, life cycle, habitat, diet, breeding, behaviour and conservation status. Use the Natureblitz App to record sightings.
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Avoca River’s Journey posters
These three posters are an excellent resource for staff and students to familiarise themselves with the Avoca River – it’s; source, path, reaches, catchment, major towns, history, most notable features, flora, fauna and users. The engaging format, stunning photos and user-friendly text makes it the perfect tool for teacher background, student-lead research and learning about an important waterway in the north central region.
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Loddon River’s Journey posters
These three posters are an excellent resource for staff and students to familiarise themselves with the Loddon River – it’s; source, path, reaches, catchment, major towns, history, most notable features, flora, fauna and users. The engaging format, stunning photos and user-friendly text makes it the perfect tool for teacher background, student-lead research and learning about an important waterway in the north central region.
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Campaspe River’s Journey posters
These two posters are an excellent resource for staff and students to familiarise themselves with the Campaspe River – it’s; source, path, reaches, catchment, major towns, most notable features, flora, fauna and users. The engaging format, stunning photos and user-friendly text makes it the perfect tool for teacher background, student-lead research and learning about an important waterway in the north central region.
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Waterbirds Field Guide of the North Central region
This guide produced by North Central Waterwatch includes fact files on waterbird species; description, distribution, diet, calls, breeding, habitat and conservation status. Beautiful photos make it a great asset for birdwatching at any waterway.
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Habitat Survey Data Sheet
Use this data sheet on site or at school to record your habitat survey results. You can enter your habitat survey data online at the ‘Let’s Test and Record’ tab of this website.
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Waterbug Data Sheet
Use this data sheet on site or at school to record your waterbug data after sampling. You can enter your waterbug data online at the ‘Let’s Test and Record’ tab of this website.
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Water Quality Data Sheet
Use this data sheet on site or at school to record your water quality data each month. Make sure you enter your water science data online at the ‘Let’s Test and Record’ tab of this website.
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Fish Need Trees poster
This beautiful graphic illustrates the variety of ways that fish use trees in and beside waterways and why it’s essential we retain and replace them.
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Fish Need Healthy Rivers poster
This is a great poster highlighting the features of waterways that fish require for food, shelter, breeding and migration, from source to mouth.
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Waterbug fact sheets
Comprehensive fact sheets on a variety of bugs in each of the sensitivity categories including photos, sketches, life cycle images and information on size, appearance, habitat, diet, movement, predators, life cycles and other interesting facts
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The Wimmera’s Flowing Tale video
Take a journey along the depth and breadth of the Wimmera River catchment. Produced in 2006, this short film is a fantastic look back at our river system. It focusses on how Wimmera CMA looks after the catchment and how they manage environmental water releases. Although many things have changed since this film was made, such as completion of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline and more security for environmental water releases, the themes in this flowing tale have stayed the same.
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River Detectives Field Manual
This is a copy of the Field Manual you receive a version of in your water quality test kit. If you lose your hard copy you can access it here. Be aware that this is the full manual – some pages may be irrelevant to you depending on the equipment you have and the region you are in.
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Water Quality Rating Charts
Numbers are just numbers until you work out what they mean. Use the regional water quality rating charts in the Field Manual to compare your readings for EC, turbidity, reactive phosphorus and pH to assess the health of your waterway. Or find your specific CMA region rating charts below; Corangamite CMA, Melbourne Water, North East CMA, North Central CMA, Wimmera CMA
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The Waterbug Shop
The Waterbug Shop was established as a better way for people to access equipment and resources for the sampling and identification of waterbugs.
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Bendigo Creek Citizen Science Project student presentation videos
The Reimagining Bendigo Creek aims to create a healthier, more inclusive, connected and beautiful Creek that we can all respect and value. After attending a workshop in 2019 about the assets and threats of Bendigo Creek, students were challenged to present their vision for a future Bendigo Creek and their innovative results were amazing ! View Huntly Primary School’s creative lego model presentation and Epsom Primary School’s engaging video as inspiration for your own student-led waterway championing project.
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Urban Stormwater brochure
This brochure produced by the Bendigo Urban Stormwater Program details the responsibilities of builders/renovators/land developers to manage runoff from building sites. Diagrams and captions clearly explain positive strategies to reduce impacts and demonstrate an example of a subdivision considering water-sensitive urban design. This is a useful resource for any region.
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Urban Stormwater poster
This poster is a fantastic resource to use demonstrate the impact of litter that can flow into a waterway with urban stormwater. It highlights the often unknown fact that only 10% of waterway litter is visible from the surface and a disturbing 90% will be hidden under the water. The Water Bug pictures could be placed on the poster to create discussion about how they (and other fauna) would be impacted by stormwater pollution and how this would impact on the entire food chain.
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Salinity Solutions poster
Print this coloured poster at A4 or A3 size for a great visual aid to discuss the features of a healthy catchment and the strategies to reduce salinity in dryland farming, irrigated farming and urban areas.
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Urban Stormwater Environmental Education Resource
The North Central CMA developed this package in 2002 and although it has links to the obsolete curriculum document CSF II, it is jam-packed with engaging cross-curricular activities to enhance student understanding of urban stormwater. Primarily aimed at Year 5 and 6 students the lesson plans and activities are easily adaptable to lower primary and lower secondary. Introductory content can be found by clicking the resource title above and lesson plans/activity sheets for each curriculum area can be accessed using the links here; English, SOSE, Science, Maths, The Arts, HPE, Extras Some lesson plans refer to photos on a CD. A selection of these photos are available here.
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Waterways Environmental Education Resource
The North Central CMA developed this package in 2002 and although it has links to the obsolete curriculum document CSF II, it is jam-packed with engaging cross-curricular activities to enhance student understanding of waterways. Primarily aimed at Year 5 and 6 students the lesson plans and activities are easily adaptable to lower primary and lower secondary. Introductory content can be found by clicking the resource title above and lesson plans/activity sheets for each curriculum area can be accessed using the links here; English, SOSE, Science, Maths, The Arts, HPE, Extras Some lesson plans refer to photos on a CD. A selection of these photos are available here.
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Golden Perch Profile
Find out about Golden Perch and their distribution across northern Victorian waterways.
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Murray Cod Profile
Find out about Murray Cod and their distribution across northern Victorian waterways.
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North East CMA
Find out what the North East CMA does and how they care for catchments in the region. Includes descriptions of the region and projects the CMA is undertaking to protect and enhance environmental values within the region. If you are in the North East CMA region you may also like to access educational support (urban water, water cycles, water conservation) from the water corporation in your specific location using this map. It will most likely be North East Water.
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Melbourne Water education program
Find out what Melbourne Water does and how they care for catchments in the region. Includes a myriad of education resources covering frogs, litter, stormwater, catchments, waterways and more. Some are specific to the Melbourne area but many are relevant to all regions. If you are in the Melbourne Water area you may also like to access support from the water corporation in your specific location using this map. It will either be Yarra Valley Water, South East Water, City West Water or Westernport Water.
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Corangamite CMA
Find out what the Corangamite CMA does and how they care for catchments in the region. Includes descriptions of the region’s catchments and projects the CMA is undertaking to protect and enhance them. If you are in the Corangamite CMA region you may also like to access educational support (urban water, water cycles, water conservation) from the water corporation in your specific location using this map; Depending on your location it may either be Central Highlands Water or Barwon Water,
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North Central CMA
Find out what the North Central CMA does and how they care for catchments in the region. Includes great descriptions of rivers and wetlands in the region and projects the CMA is undertaking to protect and enhance them. If you are in the North Central CMA region you may also like to access educational support (urban water, water cycles, water conservation) from the water corporation in your specific location using this map; Depending on your location it may either be Coliban Water, Central Highlands Water, GWM Water or Lower Murray Water.
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Wimmera CMA
Find out what the Wimmera CMA does and how they care for catchments in the region. Includes great descriptions of rivers/streams and wetlands in the Wimmera CMA region. If you are in the Wimmera CMA region you may also like to access educational support (urban water, water cycles, water conservation) from the water corporation in your specific location using this map. It will most likely be GWM Water.
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Surveying Gurru (Lake Hindmarsh)
This documentary was created as part of National Reconciliation Week 2016 by Barengi Gadjin Land Council and Cooper Heritage Management to highlight cultural heritage survey activities on the iconic Lake Hindmarsh in western Victoria. Their findings help us understand how the area was traditionally used and the importance of Lake Hindmarsh in the past, present and future.
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Wimmera Water Short Stories
Our waterways are very special and mean something to each of us. In this series of three short stories the Wimmera CMA have been innovative and put the voices and stories of people in their region to the animated characters of the Fresh and Salty film. In Story 1 at the title link above, a tree (farmer) talks about his family being a guardian to the river over many generations. In Story 2 members of the community appear as a mosquito, fish and mollusc to tell how it feels to waterski on the river or sit beside it. In Story 3 an egret and fish share what the river means to the young and old.
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Wimmera River at Jeparit flows into Lake Hindmarsh
In September 2016 the Wimmera region enjoyed seeing many of their waterways flowing and lakes filling! The CMA filmed the breathtaking sight of Lake Hindmarsh from the air with the majority of the lake’s 139 square km surface area covered by water. Lake Hindmarsh is Victoria’s largest freshwater lake. Previously it filled after the 2011 floods but since then had been dry. It is a popular spot for camping, birdwatching, sailing and brings visitors from around the world. The lake also supports a diverse array of plants and animals including birds, frogs, fish and river redgums.
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Waterways for life – healthy rivers, healthy communities
The Wimmera River in Western Victoria is where many people start or end their days, socialise, gather and be part of community events.
In this story by the Wimmera CMA join marathon swimmer Tammy Van Wisse and Wimmera locals to see just how much people rely on healthy waterways for their own physical and mental health. Healthy rivers also keep communities vibrant and alive by bringing everyone together – whether it’s for a walk, a run, a paddle, special event, fishing or just a picnic.
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Finding Hope – Wimmera Platypus Surveys
The Wimmera CMA take you behind the scenes of their MacKenzie River platypus surveys in the Grampians. This footage was filmed during their 2019 autumn surveys. In the spring of that year they returned and filmed more beautiful footage of a male platypus.
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World Wetlands Day – A Wimmera Wetland video
To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2020 the Wimmera CMA zoomed in on Dock Lake near Horsham that received water for the first time in two decades in 2016. They recorded the great diversity and abundance of waterbirds that flocked to the lake, showing how adding water to wetlands can trigger a huge response from nature.
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The Wimmera – A Flowing Fish Tale video
This video produced by Wimmera CMA is a great example for all regions of how a healthy river that strikes the balance between the needs of plants, animals and people can build a vibrant community. It shows that strategies ensuring healthy fish populations boosts the enjoyment of the river by local and visiting anglers and sends the message that if you look after the river, it will look after you.
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Salinity Photos
These photos of salt-ravaged land, healthy land, restoration strategies and urban salinity can be used as a springboard for discussion, in conjunction with lessons in the Salinity Environmental Education Resource (see Topics-Salinity) or with some of the activities on the Salinity activity matrix found under the Dive Deeper tab.
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Salinity Environmental Education Resource
The North Central CMA developed this package in 2002 and although it has links to the obsolete curriculum document CSF II, it is jam-packed with engaging cross-curricular activities to enhance student understanding of salinity. Primarily aimed at Year 5 and 6 students the lesson plans and activities are easily adaptable to lower primary and lower secondary. Introductory content can be found by clicking the resource title above and lesson plans/activity sheets for each curriculum area can be accessed using the links here; English, SOSE, Science, Maths, The Arts, HPE, Extras Some lesson plans refer to photos on a CD. A selection of these photos are available here.
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‘Birds in Backyards’ seasonal bird survey program
Get involved in seasonal bird surveys with Birdata, Birdlife Australia’s easy-to-use website and app. Both resources automatically give you a list of 30 birds from your region to help get you started – so you don’t need to be an expert to take part. Use this video to learn how to get started using the Birdata website to enter your results or, if you are a maths maniac, browse, filter, graph, analyse and compare bird data from anywhere in Australia. The App is a portable conservation tool allowing volunteers to leap into the colourful world of birdwatching and enter bird survey data via phones or tablets. You can also get involved in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count in October each year, a nationwide citizen-science event.
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Wild Pollinator website
The Wild Pollinator Count gives you an opportunity to contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia. Twice a year (April and November) the community is invited to count wild pollinators in the local environment and help build a database on wild pollinator activity. You can join in by watching any flowering plant for just ten minutes sometime in the count weeks.
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Kids Teaching Kids website
The Kids Teaching Kids Program raises awareness and drives action on local and global environmental issues, helping the next generation of leaders who will take collective responsibility for our future. By giving students the opportunity to present a workshop to others during Kids Teaching Kids Week or at one of the Kids Conferences, students see that they can have a positive impact on the world, starting in their own communities. You could consider having a group of students present at a KTK workshop or run a KTK- inspired event at your school with cross-age learning or by gathering with other non-River Detective schools.
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Junior Rangers website
Parks Victoria’s Junior Rangers website is a great resource with activity sheets and booklets found at the ‘Make and Do’ link. Topics are wide-ranging but River Detective related content includes; a river activity Booklet, pest animals, river red gums, pest plants and weeds, platypus and general activities related to nature studies that can be done at school, in backyards or at your water testing site.
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Dhelkunya Dja: Dja Dja Wurrung Country Plan 2014 – 2034
The Dhelkunya Dja Country Plan is about reaffirming the aspirations and describing the future of the Traditional Owners of Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
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Aboriginal Victoria
Aboriginal Victoria aims to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage, promote the advancement of Treaty and self-determination, and deliver programs to strengthen Aboriginal communities.
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Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI)
The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated, or VAEAI, is the state-wide Aboriginal community-controlled organisation for education and training in Victoria.
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Marrung – Aboriginal Education Plan 2016 – 2026
Marrung is the Department of Education and Training’s strategy to ensure that all Koorie Victorians achieve their learning aspirations.
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Urban Water Cycle animations
People have changed the natural water cycle; buildings and pipes take water for drinking and remove sewage and stormwater. This is the urban water cycle. In Melbourne the urban water cycle is managed by Melbourne Water. Use this interactive map to learn more or this link to explore other aspects. In north central Victoria Coliban Water manages urban water. Check out their animation with links to videos to explore topics further.
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Stony Creek Recovery Project
Learn about a multi-agency effort to recover the health of Stony Creek after the West Footscray warehouse fire on 30 August 2018.
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Enhancing Dandenong Creek
Melbourne Water’s ‘Enhancing Our Dandenong Creek’ project is taking an innovative approach to sewerage management and bringing the creek back to life. Although Melbourne based, this is a great case study to show students how urban water can be managed effectively. For more information go to Melbourne Water’s website
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Wonderful Waterbugs
You may like to use this activity sheet from Melbourne Water when completing a sampling activity – includes a space to sketch the bugs you find and profiles on five common waterbugs.
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Waterway Treasure Hunt
Use this activity sheet from Melbourne Water to hunt for the sights, sounds, smells and textures along a waterway near you. Draw other discoveries and reflect on how time spent at the waterway makes you feel.
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Waterway Hero activity sheet
Match pollutants with a strategy to avoid their impact to consolidate knowledge of stormwater pollution and its effect on waterways. This resource from Melbourne Water has relevance for all regions but bear in mind that in some regions our litter may not make it to the ocean as stated here.
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Puzzling Platypus activity sheet
Read some facts about the diet of a platypus then complete the maze from Melbourne Water to help the platypus return to her nest and babies in the creek bank. Perhaps students could calculate 25% of their own body weight and work out what foods they could eat to satisfy that quantity each day ?
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The Frog Lifecycle
A simple worksheet from Melbourne Water to review the stages of a frog’s lifecycle. Great to use as a reading comprehension activity.
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Caring For The Campaspe project video
The Caring for the Campaspe project is the first large scale on-ground works project to deliver river health improvements for the Campaspe River from its headwaters near Ashbourne to the Murray River at Echuca. Since 2012, the North Central CMA has been providing fencing, offstream watering, weed control and revegetation incentives to interested land managers on both public and privately owned along the river’s length. This video is a great example of the great outcomes that can be achieved when passionate groups work together to improve river health.
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Exploring Surface Water Tension and Water Striders
This unit comprising of 6 lesson plans for upper primary will develop student’s scientific inquiry skills while learning about water tension and how a water strider utilises water tension to survive. For more surface tension science experiments check out this video.
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Mosquito Madness
The unit provides 5 lesson plans to allow students to understand the life cycle of mosquitoes, specifically their morphogenesis and the way the organism changes appearance throughout its lifetime. Other key topics include mosquito habitats, ecology and environmental impacts on the mosquito population.
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Waterbugs Higher Level Key
Closely observe the features of macroinvertebrates and use the questions on this key to work your way to an identification using the Agreed Level Taxonomy (ALT) method. For more info on ALT method, go to: thewaterbug.net
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Wetlands Habitat Activity Booklet
The resource contains six engaging activities for primary students to develop awareness around wetlands, wetland habitats and the importance of wetlands in our world.
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Waterbug ID chart
Use this poster as a field guide to identify waterbugs in your sample, understand the in-stream habitats they prefer and use the sensitivity scores to rate the health of your waterway. It can be laminated (or similar) and used with white board markers for longevity.
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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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How to run a waterbug session video
In this video Priya from Melbourne Water takes you through the key steps of how to sample and study macroinvertebrates (waterbugs). Don’t forget to contact your local Catchment Management Authority to arrange a loan of macroinvertebrate equipment to run a sampling activity with your students or set up your school’s own kit.
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Water Bug Outlines
Use these bug outlines for colouring, collage, making posters/dioramas, classifying, making a food chain, as a starting point for research, etc.
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How to make a bug dial
Make your own bug dial and learn more about the bugs you’ve identified. Find out about the way they move, their sensitivity to pollutants, where they live and special features.
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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 National Carp Control Plan – informative and interesting!
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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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Algae fact sheet
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Stormwater fact sheet
What is stormwater? Where does it come from, where does it go and what can we do to help protect our waterways?
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Phosphorus – fact sheet
Your quick reference guide to all things phosphorus.
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Habitats near a waterway – fact sheet
Find out about the different habitats near and in a waterway and why they are important.
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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 what woody habitat is and why it is an important part of waterways.
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Foam fact sheet
Find out how and why foam occurs in waterways.
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North Central CMA Catchment maps
The North Central CMA region is one of ten CMA regions of Victoria. This region has four catchments; Campaspe, Loddon, Avoca and Avon Richardson. These can be broken down further into eleven sub-catchments. Click the links below to find out which catchment/sub-catchment your town/waterway is in. See it from above and understand the way water flows in your area. 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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Is your school a Resource Smart School?
If you are, by being a part of River Detectives you can tick off some extra areas in the Biodiversity module !
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Brain bending time fillers
Engaging activities to stimulate minds and consolidate learning in those idle moments in your classroom schedule
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Stormwater Education Manual
A comprehensive manual including teachers notes, lesson plans, activities, information and worksheets for upper primary and lower secondary students about urban stormwater sources, impacts and strategies.
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Fresh and Salty Booklet
This booklet complements the Fresh and Salty video with teacher notes and lesson plans
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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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