Photosynthesis

On Thursday I worked with the grade 2 and 3 students (4 classes) at Findon PS to introduce them to the concept of Photosynthesis.

We started out addressing the needs (input) of a plant: sunlight, nutrients, carbon dioxide, water etc.We then discussed what a plant produces (output): flowers, leaves, fruit, oxygen etc. The students demnstrated a good understanding of this, although they did get confused between the role of gases (carbon dioxide and oxygen). The students worked in teams to produce a diagram of these processes.

One student dressed up as the sun and the other students dressed up as trees. They acted out the lifecycle of a plant: waiting as a seed until the sun came along and gave them energy (tapped them on the shoulder). The trees grew slowly, putting out branches and leaves until they were fully grown, blowing in the breeze.

The classes then watched the Photosynthesis Song (YouTube video) and acted this out as trees.

The students really enjoyed the lesson, especially dressing up. One student commented "I think that was the best lesson this year... I love it when Andrew does fun things with us - and we learnt so much about Photosythesis".

School Energy Audit Report

In June, the Findon Biodiversity Group conducted an all-school Energy Audit. A report was compiled by Planet Savers Australia and has been presented by the Biodiversity Group. The report found that the school emissions per student were slightly higher than the recommended levels for Primary Schools (based on State benchmarks). Major energy uses were heating / cooling, lighting during off-peak times and IT / computer needs.

The recommendations were divided into four key areas of energy consumption:

1. Lighting

• Switch off when not being used
• Label switches with signage encouraging students and staff to switch off when not is use
• Upgrade fluorescent lighting
• Replace incandescent, halogen and T8 fittings with LED 

2. Air-conditioning (heating/cooling)

• An agreed temperature set range from all staff (Recommended cooling temp 24-26 / heating 18-20 degrees)
• Install timed-control on electric Heaters and split systems
• Close evaporative vents during winter
• Solar air-conditioning
• Heat reflective paint for roof areas
• Future decisions with heating and cooling systems
• Building fabric, solar gain and heat loss

3. Appliances and hot water

• Timers for water boilers
• Timers for hot water services and water coolers
• Switch off refrigerators over school breaks
• Upgrade refrigerators to more efficient types

4. Information Technology

• Enable computer standby and hibernation
• Shut down at the wall or switchboard during school breaks holidays
• Use photocopier power save mode
• Switch off printers and copiers at the wall
• Switch off interactive whiteboards

Useful links:

www.planetsavers.com.au 
www.ceres.org.au 
www.coolaustralia.org 
www.energystar.gov.au 
www.epeat.net 
www.energyrating.gov.au 
www.greenpower.com.au

Hands on Habitats!

 

Hands on Habitats is an experience that the La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary has offered for a few years. Recently we have been re-vamping this experience (amongst others) to make it more 'hands-on' and to align with the new Victorian Government curriculum (AusVELS).

 

Hands on Habitats

 

Overview of experience

‘Hands on Habitats’ is the ideal introduction to (or reinforcement of) the needs of animals, and interactions with their environment. Your students will investigate three habitats in an Australian River Red Gum Woodland – Terrestrial (ground), Arboreal (trees and hollows) and Aquatic (wetland); gaining insight into the native animals that live here, how these environments function and what is required to create habitats. Optional activities can direct habitat construction back at school.

 

Our expert presenters will take full advantage of anything your class might bump into. This could include a mob of kangaroos, an orb weaver spinning an intricate web, a swamp hen with gangly feet, or a flock of ducks landing on the water.

 

Your educational experience at the La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary is designed to stimulate the imagination and curiosity of your students and provide them with ways to safely explore, learn about, and look after their environment.

 

Standard activities

A standard experience runs for 2 hours and includes 4 activities. Each class will accompany the same presenter as they rotate through the activities.

 

 

 

AusVELS Levels F-2:

1. ‘Introduction to Habitats’
• A classroom based activity that introduces students to the habitats of the LTWS and the animals that live here
• Students construct a food chain/web that links terrestrial, aquatic and arboreal habitats
2. Dip-netting
• Using dip nets to locate aquatic invertebrates from a wetland
• Note the habitat and interactions between organisms 
3. Arboreal Habitats
• Using teamwork students take on the challenge of assembling nest boxes
• Students experience what it’s like to build a home as a Sugar Glider
4. Rock ‘n Roll
• Students roll over logs and rock in the bush and catch the cratures that live underneath
• Note the importance of shelter (protection from predators) in habitats

AusVELS Levels 3-4:

1. ‘Introduction to Habitats’ (see above) OR ‘Whose Habitat that that?’ (see below)
2. Dip-netting (see above)
3. Arboreal Habitats (see above)
4. Woodland Walk
• Students explore arboreal, terrestrial and aquatic habitats
• On a walk through the LTWS, students investigate which animals call tree hollows their home
• Students identify the habitat needs of lizards and embark on a search for their perfect home

 

AusVELS Levels 5-6:

1. ‘Whose Habitat is that?’
• Students use an information booklet to identify the needs of native animals
• Using clues from the booklet they search for the perfect habitat for these animals
2. Dip-netting (see above)
3. Arboreal Habitats
• Students investigate the different types of nest boxes utilised in the LTWS
• Using nest box cameras, students gain an intimate view into the lives of some arboreal animals
4. Woodland Walk (see above)

Extended experience / Options 

‘Standard’ experiences can be extended by adding extra activities, some suggestions have been detailed below. If your topic focus does not suit the standard activities, we can swap them. Activities and experiences can be tailored to suit your needs – contact LTWSEducation@latrobe.edu.au for more information.

 

• Extended Introduction to Habitats
• Short presentations allow students to engage with minibeasts (invertebrates) and lizard lounges
• An intimate look into the lives of some of Australia’s native animals through the LTWS’s nest box camera feeds
• Frog Bog
• Students are introduced to the habitat requirements of frogsand the steps involved in creating a man-made wetland
• Students get to act out the steps using a model wetland (Please note: students do not get to create an actual wetland – see consultancies and incursions below)
• Lizard Lounge
• Students are introduced to the habitat requirements of lizards and the steps involved in constructing a ‘lizard lounge’
• Students get to act out the steps constructing their own lizard lounge in LTWS
• Close Encounters
• Using a video camera or one of our microscopes, students get ‘up-close and personal’ with minibeasts. Can be tailored to suit students at lower F-2 or higher 3-6 AusVELS levels
• Bee / Ant / Butterfly game
• A fun, team-building activity that focuses on the habitats of ants, bees or butterflies and their interaction with plants / flowers
• Nest Box construction
• For higher AusVELS levels with adequate adult supervision (1 adult per 5 students) only. In teams, students follow instructions and use tools to construct their own nest box. Allow more time for this activity. Additional costs may apply
• My Footprint
• Higher AusVELS level students are introduced to the concept of an ecological footprint and, as a class, calculate their own footprint. They discuss ways in which they can become more sustainable and reduce their impact on the environment
• Pull-apart-a-Poa
• Poa (native grass tussocks) provide habitat for many small animals. Students investigate this habitat by pulling apart tussocks and collecting any creatures they find. Best when combined with Potting-up-a-Poa
• Potting-up-a-Poa
• Poa can reproduce via division. Poa pulled apart can be potted and grown into indepedant tussocks. Students follow instructions to pot up their own Poa, which can be taken home or to school to be planted.

Habitat Creation consultancies and incursions are also available.

 

 

Pre- and Post-trip resources

 

La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary Resources

• Introduction to Habitats presentation (Levels F-6)
• Aquatic invertebrate identification sheet
• Compost invertebrate identification sheet
• Close Encounters activity
• Bug Info sheets
• LTWS DYI Nest Box kits
• Nest Box Footage (please contact us if interested in this footage)
• Butterfly pots activity

 

External Resources

• Australian Government ‘Hands on for Habitats’ teachers resource (Leveles F-7): http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/46de2525-fff1-4071-9682-9a98d034943c/files/teachersguide.pdf
• Australian Government ‘Discovering Wetlands in Australia’ teachers resource (Levels 3-6), includes animal origami, fact sheets, word games and videos http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/discovering-wetlands-australia
•  Australian Museum ‘Wild Kids’: information about different Australian habitats and animals http://australianmuseum.net.au/wild-Kids
• Habitat web / ecological connections (North American focus, but can be adapted to local plants and animals) http://happeninhabitats.pwnet.org/pdf/Habitat_Web_Activity.pdf
• Animal based activities (colouring in, dot-to-dot, word search etc) http://www.durrell.org/Kids/Puzzles--activities//Kids/Puzzles--activities
• Biomes imaginary creature packet and Biomes matching cards (North American focus) http://scienceforkidsblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/biomes-freebie-next-generation-science.html
• BBC habitats (information about British habitats and the animals that live there) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats
• Interactive information about animals and their predators (international) http://www.whateats.com/
• Food web and animal identification key interactive online game (North American Focus) http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/foodchains.html
• Producer / Consumer / Decomposer interactive online game http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/producersconsumersgame.htm
• Increasing complexity food chain interactive game http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm
• Nest box plans for Australian Birds (Birds in Backyards) http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/Nest-Box-Plans
• A range of activities, including possum nest box designs, at World of Animal Welfare: http://www.woaw.org.au/teachers/learning-resources/activities/
• Video ‘Australian Wood Ducks using a nest box’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6G71M7YEzY
• Garden activities for kids http://www.gardening4kids.com.au/category/garden-activities/
• Australian Government ‘Build a Lizard Lounge’ http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/db37051e-a47c-4475-b6a9-564a044ac569/files/lizard.pdf
• BugLife teachers resources (British focus) including activities, colouring sheets and information http://www.buglife.org.uk/activities-for-you/children-and-schools/bug-resources-schools
• Simple Bug Hotel for Kids http://www.redtedart.com/2013/06/26/simple-bug-hotel-for-kids/
• Corroboree Frog Education Kit http://wirraminna.org/wirra-projects/corroborree-frogs/Corroborree_Frog_Education_Kit.pdf
• Build a frog pond: http://www.fnpw.org.au/resources/habitats-for-australian-animals/native-frog-ponds
• Supporting Native fish in your garden http://www.backyards4wildlife.com.au/uploads/BFW%20FS%20-%20Native%20Fish.pdf 
• Parks and Woodland activities (Bristish focus) http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/supporter-resources/downloads/C4L_W4L_Fun_Games_for_ParksandWoodlands.pdf