| Teacher Resources
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Teachers participating in a recent
catchment T and D session |
Assisting educators
The Onkaparinga
Waterwatch Network offers a range of activities designed
to help educators teach about the local environment.
The activities come in two types, one is basically a do-it-yourself
approach, the other involves Education Officers coming to your school.
A do it yourself approach
To assist teachers, the Board has developed an exciting new
one-stop shop education resources titled "Catchment Connections.
'Catchment connections' is a new resource package designed
specifically for schools in the Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management
Board's area, and is the result of integrating the resources of
two Board funded programs: Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network and Our
Patch. It covers four main theme areas and features a variety of
lesson ideas and background information.
Click on the link below to see some of our most popular do it yourself
activities
Education Officer assisted activities
In
addition to the do-it-yourself activities, OWN also offers a number
of activities that feature an OWN Education Officer coming to your
school to deliver specific sessions to your students. These sessions
are as follows:
To book your session, contact:
The Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network -OWN
c/o Woorabinda Environmental Education Centre
Stirling SA
Phone:8370 1298 Fax:8370 1298
Email: info@onkawaterwatch.org
More
information about these activities............
Testing
Times
Year Levels: 5 +
Session Aims:
- To introduce the reasons for water monitoring.
- To train students so they feel confident using water testing
equipment and interpreting results.
- To discuss reasons why water quality changes in different parts
of the catchment.
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Macro
Madness
Year Levels: 2+
Availability: all year
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Student Outcomes:
- Define aquatic macroinvertebrates (macros or waterbugs) and
discuss their role in ecosystems.
- Develop macro identification skills and gain knowledge of sampling
techniques.
- Identify that macros are an indicator of water health.Gain skills
to enable teacher directed macro sampling at the schools site.
Waterwatch staff will arrive with a sample of water containing
macros and all the necessary equipment for the session. We begin
by exploring the questions; what are macroinvertebrates, where they
are found, how do we catch them and why are they important?
Students split up into 6 groups and move to their desks. They try
to catch and observe the many kinds of macros and then use charts
to identify what they find.
To conclude, students will use the macros they find to determine
the pollution level of a waterway.
Optional: We have a video magnifier that can attach to your school’s
TV to help identify macros.
Resources Required
- Cleared tables.
- Towels/paper towels.
- Students need to be prepared to work in 6 groups with stations
around the classroom for them to work at.
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Froggy
Frenzy
Year levels: all
Availability: March - November
Duration: 45 minutes
Recommended for classes participating in the EPA's Frog Census.
Student Outcomes:
- Identify at least 3 species of frogs found in the local area
from photographs and frog calls
- Identify the stages in the frog life cycle
- Gain knowledge of threats facing native frogs
- Discuss unique features of frog body parts
This session introduces students to some of the weird and wonderful
features and habits of frogs, why they're important and what we
can do to help protect them. The six species of local frogs are
introduced and their mating call played. The class is quizzed to
see if they can identify certain species from the calls (you'll
be amazed!).
Reasons for the decline in local frog numbers are discussed as
a springboard for further discussion/work on what we can all do
to help protect frog populations. Live frogs are bought in so students
can see them up close.
Resources Required
- A quiet space with enough room for class to sit in a circle.
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Stormwater
Solutions
Year levels: 3 +
Availability: All year.
Duration: 1 hour (+ 1 hour extension activity conducted
by the teacher)
Student Outcomes:
- Identify that we all live in a catchment and that the pollution
we leave on the ground will end up in waterways via stormwater
drains.
- Identify differences between the stormwater and sewerage systems.
- Understand the effect of stormwater on waterways.
- Discuss ways we can reduce stormwater pollution.
This session works best if teachers carry out a gutter sweep with
their class soon after the education officer has visited your school.
Instructions for the gutter sweep will be provided when teachers
book in for the stormwater solutions session.
This session explains the difference between the stormwater and
sewerage networks and how simple household practices can affect
local waterways. The students are given models that depict different
kinds of land use, including farming, industrial and residential
land uses. Students then bring the models to life by adding props
and pollutants. Rain is simulated using a watering can and students
watch as the pollutants are washed into our model waterway. This
highly visual presentation is a strong reminder to students of the
importance of reducing stormwater pollution for the sake of our
rivers.
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Every
Drop Counts
Year levels: 3 +
Availability: Term 4
Duration: 45 minutes
Student Outcomes:
- Identify that our drinking water is taken from natural waterways
and is a limited resource.
- Observe that humans are removing too much water from the Onkaparinga
River.
- Discuss impacts of water shortages on the river and native
plants and animals.
- Identify water use at school and home.
- Identify ways to save water at home and at school.
The source of our drinking water (natural waterways) is discussed.
Students carry out the role play the Onkaparinga River: running
out of water and take on the roles of different users of water along
the Onkaparinga River. At the end of the role play students conclude
that too much water is taken from the river, causing native plants
and animals to die.
Students then discuss the ways that water is used around the school
and home. Strategies for saving water are identified. To conclude
students suggest ways that their role play- character
could save water as they pour some of their water back into the
‘
river’.
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Woorabinda
Wonders - Stirling excursion
Year levels: All
Availability: All year
Duration: Junior Primary - 1 hour, other levels
– up to 2 hours
Student Outcomes:
- Observe the diversity of life found in the Onkaparinga Catchment
- Gain bird, plant and/or macroinvertebrate identification skills
- Identify differences between a natural’ environment and
the school environment
- Identify animal adaptations and discuss their importance for
the animals survival
- Discuss the role of native plants as food and habitat for native
animals
Students explore the native environment around Woorabinda, with
plant identification, bird watching, macroinvertebrate monitoring
and habitat investigation as possible activities. Also available
is a hands on experience with our native lizard and tortoise. Students
will also see the antics of the native fish, frogs and other water
creatures in our classroom. Session length is negotiable and the
content can be tailored to your needs. Recommended for 2 classes
at a time.
Resources Required:
- Transport to Stirling ( bus subsidies are available)
- Clipboard and pencil
- Extra staff member or parents would help!
Further information will be sent out prior to excursion.
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Where
Fresh Meets Salt – Estuary excursion
Year Levels: 3+
Availability: All year
Duration: 1.5 hours
NB: This forms part of the Catchment Crawl, please don’t
register for both.
Student Outcomes
- Discuss tides, salinity fluctuations and water quality of the
estuary.
- Use ID charts to identify birds and plants.
- Consider the importance of the estuary as a fish breeding area.
- Discuss how the health of the estuary affects the marine environment.
NB: This forms part of the Catchment Crawl, please don’t
register for both.
We meet at Pt. Noarlunga and begin our estuary exploration. At the
Weatherald Tce footbridge we observe the action of the tide, and
measure the salinity of the estuary water. We then head towards
the beach and make bird and plant observations along the way. Finally
we identify the importance of the estuary environment to humans
and animals and brainstorm ways to improve this environment. After
the session you can lunch on the beach, play beach activities or
conduct your own environmental investigation of the beach.
Resources Required:
- Transport to Port Noarlunga South (bus subsidies available)
- Clipboards and pencils
- Sun protection
- Drinking water
- Extra staff member or parents would help!
Further information will be sent out prior to excursion.
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Catchment
Crawl - Excursion
Year levels: 3+
Availability: Terms 2 & 3.
Duration: Approx. 6 hours
Student Outcomes
- Identify different types of land use, and discuss possible impacts
to river health
- Conduct a macroinvertebrate survey
- Conduct water quality testing
- Understand that the Onkaparinga River is an important water
source for people, animals and plants
- Identify that pollution from anywhere in the catchment can
end up polluting the river
- Recognise that the Onkaparinga River Estuary is an important
habitat for fish species that humans like to eat.
This full-day excursion visits 4-5 places along the Onkaparinga
River. Schools provide the bus transport (subsidies are available).
Worksheets are provided for students to answer at each stop.
There are two itinerary alternatives: Mylor, Clarendon, Old Noarlunga,
Port Noarlunga or Mt Bold Reservoir, Clarendon, Old Noarlunga, Onkaparinga
Wetlands, Port Noarlunga. At Clarendon, students have the opportunity
to collect macroinvertebrates in a safe part of the river. Some
water quality testing is carried out during the day. At other stops,
students observe river conditions and discuss how the environment
changes.
Resources Required:
- Outlined in information pack sent upon registration.
- Extra staff member or parents would help!
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Why
Wetlands?
Year levels: 3+
Availability: Terms 2 and 3
Duration: 45 minutes
Student Outcomes
- Identify that a wetland can be wet or dry
- Understand that the Pt. Noarlunga wetlands are designed and
built by people to reduce stormwater pollution in the Onkaparinga
River
- Identify wetland areas that help to clean-up stromwater
- Carry out a survey of the birds and macroinvertebrates inhabiting
wetlands
- Identify that wetlands are an important habitat for many plants
and animals
Students gather at the meeting point, where bird identification
charts and binoculars are given out. Stormwater pollution issues
are discussed, and the wetlands are introduced as a method for dealing
with these pollution issues. Students walk to a wetland and carry
out a bird survey along the way.
At the wetland the parts of the wetland that help to reduce pollution
are identified and discussed. Students then walk back to the initial
meeting point, while continuing to carry out their bird survey.
Students are provided with wetland water samples containing macroinvertebrates
and asked to look through the samples to identify as many macros
as they can. To finish students walk to a different wetland to observe
a litter trap and to discuss ways that we can all stop pollution
from reaching the wetland in the first place.
Resources Required
- Outlined in information pack sent upon registration.
- Extra staff member or parents would help!
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For further
information and bookings contact:
The Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network -OWN
c/o Woorabinda Environmental Education Centre
Stirling SA
Phone: 8370 1298 Fax:8370 1298
Email: info@onkawaterwatch.org
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