Guide/Activity Booklet
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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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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“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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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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“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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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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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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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 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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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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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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Frogs Field Guide of the North Central region
This guide produced by North Central Waterwatch includes fact files on frog species; description, calls, breeding, eggs, tadpoles, habitat and conservation status. It also clearly explains the different types of pupils, toes and eggs that can assist with frog identification.
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Fish Field Guide of the North Central region
This guide produced by North Central Waterwatch includes fact files on fish species; description, breeding, fins, eggs, habitat, diet and conservation status including threats. A map showing the fish species approximate distribution in the North Central CMA region and a breeding cycle calendar is also provided for each species, along with a photo or two. It contains simple information to assist with identifying a fish.
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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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Barapa Barapa Field survey plant guide
Find out more about plants in the Barapa Barapa region through pictures and descriptions of the plant, it’s habitat and it’s traditional uses.
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Map your River
Follow the Teachers Guide to support students to draw a birds eye view of their water testing site with captions to highlight various features. The Riparian Zone Poster could be used as an example.
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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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Junior Landcare
Find out: – where your local Junior Landcare group is – how to get Junior Landcare going in your school – about activity ideas (linked to the Australian curriculum) – what grants are available – how to build worm farms, frog ponds, enhance habitats and more! Since COVID-19 a fantastic new section has been launched; Just For Kids filled with great activities for home and school to learn about caring for land and water.
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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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Exploring Estuaries Guide
This guide provides educators with a number of lesson plans linked to the Australian Curriculum. It supports estuary-related resources designed to enhance student understanding of this important water system..
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Water Bug Flip Charts
An interactive resource about the most common macroinvertebrates. Set on a 5 cent piece, images help students understand the size and scale of waterbugs and when your mouse hovers on an image it flips to reveal a fact file of the bug’s name, size, physical features and interesting adaptions.
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