about us get involved contact us resources events what's new
Education resources

Teacher education resources

There are a number of curriculum resources available for teachers to assist in teaching about water quality and catchment health. See below for a comprehensive list.

Regional Coordinators are able to assist you with obtaining these resources, please contact us for more information.

Regional Curriculum Resources

South East Waterwatch Curriculum Resource

This resource contains 10 water education units that focus on the topic of water. Each topic is linked directly to the essential learning's and key competencies highlighted in the South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability (SACSA) framework. Each unit of work runs between 4-6 weeks and contains a list of suggested activities and worksheets required to complete the unit of work. The resource also provides a list of resources such as books and websites that are relevant to each unit.

Units of work include Introduction to Water (early years), Water Pollution (primary years), Water Quality Monitoring and Interpretation (middle years) and Integrated Catchment Management (senior years).

KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch Curriculum Resource

This resource, in alignment with the SACSA Framework, aims to promote a sustainable education program that will be adopted and maintained by schools and school groups. Education sessions, lesson plans and other learning opportunities have been developed to encourage integration into existing learning programs or a 'whole school' approach to catchment education.

River Murray Waterwatch Curriculum Resource

This document will assist teachers to understand how the River Murray Waterwatch education sessions link with the SACSA Framework. In addition, teacher resource packs are also available on the following topics:

Eyre Peninsula NRM Board Education Page

This site will assist teachers who need support and resources for exploring sustainability and natural resource management on Eyre Peninsula.  Resources available from the site include:

  • Discover Nature on Eyre Education Resource
  • Education for Sustainability on Eyre newsletter
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Loan Library

New Resources

Critter Catalogue

This catalogue is an informative guide to the natural history of South Australian aquatic invertebrates. This guide provides a summary of the diversity, habits and nature of aquatic invertebrates of this state. It can help students monitor and identify water bugs in their local area. The resource is suitable for Year 10 and above.

The catalogue is available as a whole document or alternatively select the section of your interest.

Downstream: The River Murray

The State Library's has recently launched the new River Murray website named "Downstream". The site contains an enormous amount of historical information including photographs and oral histories of the River Murray.

CD ROMs and On-line Resources

Water: Learning and Living

Water - Learning and Living provides a framework for educating about water and catchments in South Australia. The resource can be used in CD ROM format or via the internet and enables teachers and students to access relevant information, activities and key contacts at the press of a button.

Catchment Care

This resource focuses on biodiversity issues, and has been produced for schools participating in the Catchment Water Management Board's 'Our Patch'/'Catchment Care' programs.

Coast and Marine Education

This resource aims to engage educators who may not have delved into the coast and marine theme before. It provides easily accessible resources, activities and contacts and demonstrates curriculum and environmental relevance.

Waterwatch Manuals

There are a number of manuals available - click on the links below:

Waterwatch SA

Other States

Equipment

Monitoring Kits

Regional Coordinators are able to assist you to purchase or borrow monitoring equipment.

Most Freshwater Monitoring Kits contain:

  • laminated instruction sheets for all tests
  • data record sheets
  • pH strips
  • thermometer
  • electrical conductivity (EC) meter
  • calibration solution
  • turbidity tube
  • Phosphate-P tests
  • Nitrate-N tests
  • 3 plastic screw top containers
  • a part of gloves
  • safety glasses
  • plastic syringe

Most Estuarine Water Monitoring Kits contain:

  • laminated instruction sheets for all tests
  • data record sheets
  • topographic maps covering monitoring sites
  • table of wind speed observations
  • tide chart
  • table of water surface conditions
  • water colour chart
  • temperate salinity conversion chart
  • secchi disc with marked cord
  • pH strips for seawater
  • thermometer
  • hydrometer
  • Phosphate-P tests for seawater
  • Dissolved Oxygen test
  • Alkalinity test kit
  • sample bottles
  • 2 plastic screw top containers
  • a part of gloves
  • safety glasses
  • plastic syringe

Most Macro-invertebrate Monitoring Kits contain:

  • a sample net
  • plastic petri dishes
  • white sorting trays
  • plastic pipettes
  • plastic spoons
  • 2-way viewers, a magnifying glass or microscope
  • A guide to identify macro-invertebrates

Note - each kit may differ depending on your region.

Useful items to include with all Waterwatch kits

  • Pencil
  • Biro
  • Clip Board
  • Stop watch

Identification books

Can be purchased at any good book stores. Useful identification books include:

  • Colour Guide to invertebrates of Australian inland waters - John H. Hawking & Felicity J. Smith
  • The Waterbug Book - John Gooderham & Edward Tsyrlin
  • Waterplants in Australia - G.R. Sainty
  • A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia - Martin Robinson
  • Green Guide: Frogs of Australia - Gerry Swan
  • Seaweeds of Australia - I.G. Christianson, M.N. Clayton & B.M. Allender
  • Australian Seashores: A Guide to the Temperate shores for the beach-lover, the naturalist, the shore-fisherman and the student - W.J. Dakin & I. Bennett
  • Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills - G. Dashorst & J. Jessop
  • A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia - K. Davey
  • Australia's Seashores. Environmental Field Guide to Flora and Fauna - F. Haddon
  • A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters - D. Jones & G. Morgan
  • What Scum is That? - S. Mitrovic

Fact Sheets

Waterwatch Australia also has a number of fact sheets which can be downloaded from their website.

Click on the links below:

Videos

Stormwater Videos*

'Drains to the bay' and 'Gutter Pirates' videos highlight the various types of pollution that enter our freshwater systems via stormwater runoff. These videos are available on loan throughout the year.

*Not available from all Waterwatch offices.

Frog Videos

The Tyler Tapes take you on a journey around the world to discover the history, mysteries and myths of frogs and learn about the role frogs are playing in medical science. Narrated by Australian frog guru, Professor Mike Tyler.

Note - available from South East Waterwatch.

Plant Videos

The Good, the bad and beautiful; Waterplants in Australia. Learn about the economic and environmental costs associated with aquatic weeds and the role native plants play along a water course.

Note - available from South East Waterwatch.

Septic Tanks

Save our Seppo and discover the impact waste water has on natural waterways.

Note - available from South East Waterwatch.

 

~~~~~

<< back
Education Sessions and Action Activities
top
of page
next >>
Teacher Training Workshops

This page was last modified on 18 July, 2008
:: home : about us : get involved : contact us : resources : events : saltwatch : what's new ::
:: copyright © 2003-06  :  disclaimer   ::