Environmental Education Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Australian Environmental Education

June 1, 2021June 11, 2023

World Oceans Day

The more we learn about oceans and the marine environment, the more we can do to understand these link and protect the incredible diversity of species and habitats.

Education Resources

Oceans contain the greatest diversity of life on Earth. Habitats range from the freezing polar regions to the warm waters of the coral reefs, deep sea hydrothermal vents to shallow seagrass beds and beautiful sponge gardens to giant kelp forests, marine organisms are found everywhere.

Diving Stories

Marine resources

Infographic on microplastics in the oceans

Caring for our Oceans

Australia is home to the over 10,000 beaches and no part of Australia is more than 1,000km from the ocean. Our coasts are impacted by our actions on land. Rubbish and microplastics can be found washed up on almost every Australian beach.

dead turtle entangled in fishing nets on the oceans — Copyright: Maxim Blinkov

Plastic and rubbish washed up on the shore from oceans — Copyright: Maxim Blinkov

Pollution and rubbish get washed into our rivers and waterways with stormwater runoff and end up on our coasts and oceans. Over 75% of this rubbish is plastic. Plastics in the environment can take hundreds of years to break down, thereby impacting marine species for generations.

I created the Caring for our Oceans activities for the Landcare Learning Centre. These are great activities to do with your students.

Beach Survey

Beach Clean up

Remember everything we do on land has impacts on the marine environment. Follow the journey of water down the river through the catchment to the sea with the Story of a River.

May 5, 2021May 10, 2021

World Environment Day 2021

It is time to celebrate our marine and terrestrial environments with World Environment Day on June 5 and World Environment Day on June 8. The World Environment Day theme for 2021 is Ecosystem Restoration. The World Oceans Day theme for 2021 is Ocean: Life and Livelihoods.

Virtual Excursions

World Environment Day: Friday 4 June at 10am and 2pm

What’s in your Backyard: discover some of the amazing animals that live in your backyard this World Environment Day. Explores the diversity of animals that lives in your local area by looking for the clues that are left behind. Students will look at local animals and find out what they can do to protect them.

World Oceans Day: Tuesday 8 June at 10am and 2pm

My Journey Beneath the Waves: Diving Sydney’s Rocky Reefs takes you and your students on an exploration of the marine environment. The temperate waters around Sydney are home to a variety of habitats including kelp beds and sponge gardens. These are wonderful place to dive and discover the diversity of animals that live there.

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Free Education resources

Help restore your local ecosystem this World Environment day with these great activities. Creating a Wildlife Habitat is a 5 part program that can help you plan and plant a wildlife habitat at your school, home or local area.

Focus on Frogs

In urban areas, human development has reduced the natural habitat available to frogs. The Focus on Frogs workshop provides information and skills that will enable you to discover what frogs live in your backyard or local area.

Minibeasts in your Garden

Minibeasts in your Garden explores the diverse world of minibeasts. Discover why minibeasts are important and learn how find them in your garden or local park. The program will help you to identify common groups of backyard minibeasts and provides information and skills to conduct your own minibeasts investigation.

Noises in the Night

You don’t see many of the animals that live in your local area because they are nocturnal. Often it is the Noises in the Night that give us a clue to the nocturnal species that are living in our local area.

Marine Environments

The Marine Environments is divided up into three main ecosystems; Oceans, Coral Reefs and Estuaries. Our oceans make up 71% of the earth’s surface and they contain the greatest diversity of life on Earth.

The Deep Sea

The deep sea starts where the sunlight starts to fade, around 200m below the surface of the ocean. A twilight zone extends down to 1,000m, after which almost no light penetrates.

April 8, 2021April 29, 2021

Get your garden growing

Autumn is a great time to start planting your garden. The soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth and weather is mild reducing water stress. Young plants have a better chance to settle in and become established before summer heat arrives. I’ve been working on the garden below for a while and took the opportunity during the cooler weather to add new plants, mulch and do some landscaping.

I helped write some programs on Creating a Wildlife Habitat for the Junior Landcare Learning Centre. This 5 part program can help you plan and plant a wildlife habitat at your school, home or local area.

Rainbow Lorikeets in flowering gum — Rainbow Lorekeet

Creating a native wildlife habitat is a great way to ensure the protection of native wildlife, from the smallest insects to birds, reptiles, mammals and frogs.

Projects and Grants

NSW Schools are now invited to apply for a grant of up to $600 to purchase native trees and shrubs. The Tree Levy is an annual grants scheme funded by Federation to offset the environmental impact of the union’s activities.

Apply Now

If you are in Sydney you can register for the Cooling the Schools project through Greening Australia.

Cooling the Schools: Creating cooler and greener schools where children and nature thrive

We are working with students to add thousands of plants to community spaces and schools across Greater Sydney.

Incorporate existing features into your wildlife habitat design, including established trees, rainwater tanks and ponds. Make sustainable choices by using what you’ve already got.

Don’t forget to include plenty of spaces for animals to hide.

Insect hotel in terracotta pot — Insect Hotel

Attracting wildlife to you backyard

Attracting birds to your backyard

Attract birds to your backyard by creating a garden that will provide food, shelter and nesting materials and sites. Local flowering plants and fruit trees provide birds with nectar and seeds. To provide birds with some protein rich food, use mulch to encourage worms, insects and grubs to thrive. Plant dense prickly native shrubs for shelter, hang up nesting boxes and install a bird bath.

Create a frogs friendly backyard

Encourage frogs to come to live and breed in your backyard. Create a small shallow pond in an area that is partly shaded. Include thick ground hugging plants around part of the pond to provide areas of warmer and cooler water. Your pond will need some sunlight to encourage algae and other plants that provide food for tadpoles. Make sure the banks slope gently so that the frogs can get out. Add some rocks and logs to provide shelter for adult frogs.

Minibeasts in your backyard

Not all bugs are pests. Good bugs pollinate plants, break down dead flora and fauna, aerate the soil and provide for other wildlife. They can even help keep harmful pests away. Create an inviting environment for good bugs by planting plenty of native plants, wildflowers and herbs and use chemical-free pest control when the pests do creep in.

March 21, 2021April 7, 2024

Where does the rain go?

If you are on the east coast of Australia at the moment you have probably noticed that there has been a lot of rain. The high volume of rain is inundated catchments across the New South Wales resulting in repeated major flooding.

Multiple heavy rain events lead to super saturated soils and result in swollen river systems. There isn’t enough time for the water to flow away before more rain arrives. The ground is already saturated and can’t absorb more water resulting in increased runoff.

In many cities and towns this is made worse by hard surfaces; like roads, gutters, pathways and concrete drains. These hard surfaces make efficient channels directing the water into already flooded systems.

Typical Catchment

Catchments have water flowing into creeks and rivers and eventually to the sea. Floods in coastal systems are also impacted by the tides. A flood peak coinciding with the high tide will have greater impacts on low lying areas.

What is a Catchment? — Drainage basins illustration: spring, tributary, main river channel and ocean. *Copyright :* normaals

Why floods are so deep and dangerous in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. Learn how the ‘bathtub effect’ makes this valley have one of the greatest flood risks in Australia.

The extent and depth of flooding is influenced by the unique ‘Bathtub Effect’ of the floodplain causing floodwater to back-up. The ‘Bathtub Effect’ enables dangerous, damaging flooding of significant depth to occur.

Most river valleys tend to widen as they approach the sea. The opposite is the case in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. The river narrow downstream at sandstone gorges between Sackville and Brooklyn create natural choke points. Floodwaters back up and rise rapidly, causing deep and widespread flooding across the floodplain. Much like a bathtub with five taps turned on, but only one plug hole to let the water out.

Remember to stay safe

Flood Safety inforgraphic — Stay safe in a flood

February 22, 2021June 11, 2023

SeaWeek 2021

SeaWeek 2021 is on between 6 – 14 March and is a celebration of our precious marine environment. As a SCUBA diver for almost 30 years, I have seen first hand the threats to our marine environment.

This years theme recognises how humans and the oceans are interconnected. This is a time for us all to reflect on our links to the ocean; food, recreation, relaxation, travel, transport and the impacts.

The more we learn about the marine environment, the more we can do to understand these link and protect the incredible diversity of species and habitats.

Celebrate SeaWeek 2021 with some great programs from Australian Environmental Education.

Live interactive Virtual Excursions

I will share some of my favourite diving stories with you and highlight the amazing animals that live in Sydney Rocky Reefs. Take a journey beneath the waves to explore this wonderful world. Learn about some of these incredible animals, their adaptions and habitats.

Special price for SeaWeek 2021 is $50 for a or a 45 minute interactive experience.

Book your place now

Education Resources

Diving Stories

Marine resources

Caring for our Coasts

I created the Caring for our Coast activities for the Landcare Learning Centre. These are great activities to do with your students.

Beach Survey

Beach Clean up

February 10, 2021June 11, 2023

Virtual Excursions

Australian Environmental Education has some great virtual excursions coming up for your students. There are a range of live and interactive environmental science programs, by request and on demand content.

Virtual Excursions create unique learning experiences for students of all ages, there is something for everyone.

Trilobite Fossils — Magnificent Tree Frog

All sessions are delivered via Zoom to your classroom or home school network. The programs are designed for Stage 1 – 4 students and are available on the 16 – 17 February at 9.30am, 10.30am and 2pm. The cost is $75 for a 45 minute interactive experience. SeaWeek sessions are scheduled at 2pm 8 – 11 March at a special prices of $50 for a 45 minute interactive program.

Topics available

Fabulous Frogs

Australia is home to about 240 species of native Amphibians, all of which are frogs. In urban areas, human development has reduced the natural habitat available to frogs. The Fabulous Frogs workshop provides information and skills to discover what frogs live in your backyard or local area.

Book your place now

Life on Earth

Take a journey back in time to the beginning of the Earth, 4.6 Billion Years ago. We will explore the changes to the earth over time and the evolution of life. How did the 5 Mass extinction events shape the variety of Life on Earth we have today and what’s next? The session will focus on Australian fossil sites and what they tell us about the past.

Book your place now

What’s in your Backyard?

Discover some of the amazing animals that live in your backyard, school grounds and local area. Looking for the clues that these animals leave and you will be surprised by the diversity of animals in your local area. Students will also find out ways they can create wildlife friendly environments.

Book your place now

SeaWeek 2021

Karen underwater snorkeling — Copyright @ John Turnbull

Grey Nurse Shark — Copyright @ John Turnbull

Special price for SeaWeek 2021 is $50 for a or a 45 minute interactive experience.

Book your place now

Interactive Environmental Science activities direct to your class or home through a Virtual Excursion.

If these dates don’t align to your schedule you can request a time to suit your timetable.

Request a new time

Free on demand programs

Focus on Frogs

Minibeasts in your Garden

January 31, 2021June 11, 2023

World Wetland Day

Celebrating 50 Years of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This years theme is ‘Wetlands and Water’, highlights the role wetlands play in: clean water.

World Wetlands Day is an international day celebrated each year on 2 February. The 2 February marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.

The Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention aims to halt the global loss of wetlands and to conserve those that remain through wise use and management. Worldwide there are more than 2,400 listed wetlands of international importance.

In Australia there are 66 Ramsar sites wetlands of international importance covering about 8.3 million hectares. These sites include iconic wetlands such as Kakadu National Park, Roebuck Bay, Gippsland Lakes, Moreton Bay, Blue Lake, Macquarie Marshes and the Coorong.

Aerial view of Silt Jetties at Gippsland Lakes Reserve, Victoria, Australia — Gippsland Lakes, Victoria

Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, NT, Australia — Gippsland Lakes, Victoria

Australia was one of the 5 founding nations to sign the Convention. In 1974 we designated the world’s first Ramsar Wetland, the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory. Australia continues to play an important role helping to manage and implement the Convention, within Australia and internationally.

Wetlands are areas of land saturated or flooded with water permanently or seasonally. There are a variety of wetlands including:

Inland wetlands: marshes, peatlands ponds, lakes, rivers, floodplains, swamps, fens
Coastal wetlands: saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, coral reefs
Human-made wetlands: fish ponds, reservoirs, saltpans

Find out more about the importance of wetlands and water

The Natural Water Cycle

The natural water cycle shows the constant movement of water around the world. Water moves through the processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, run-off, infiltration and percolation.

The Urban Water Cycle

The natural water cycle has been modified by people to ensure a constant water supply and the safe disposal of wastewater. The Urban Water Cycle incorporates the Water Supply System, Wastewater system and the Stormwater system.

Why is Water Important

Water is the most common substance found on earth, so why is it important? Water is essential for all forms of life and can dissolve nearly anything. It can exist as a gas (water vapour and steam), a liquid (water) and a solid (ice).

How to be Waterwise

Water is essential for all life and is the most abundant substance on Earth, yet water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing us today. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and 2019 was the hottest and driest year on record.

January 20, 2021January 20, 2021

Penguin Awareness Day

January 20th is Penguin Awareness Day and it is time to get to know your penguins. There are 18 species of penguin that live primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. 72% of penguins species have a declining populations and 5 species are considered endangered. These species are facing extinction if improved protection and conservation measures are not implemented.

Fun Facts

The word Penguin may have come from the Welsh pen gwyn, meaning ‘white head’.
The Galapagos penguin is the only species of that inhabits the equator and parts of northern hemisphere.
Penguins lost the ability to fly millions of years ago.
Powerful flippers and streamlined bodies make penguins very good swimmers.
Penguins are the fastest swimming and deepest diving species of bird.
Penguins can stay underwater up to 20 minutes at a time.
The penguins light front and dark back coloration is called countershading and the provides camouflage from above and below
Penguins colonies are called rookeries.
Penguins spend up to 75 percent of their lives at sea

How can you help protect penguins?

Being a responsible consumer and ensure the seafood you eat is caught or raised sustainably.
Oil pollution is deadly to marine environments so check that your fuel and oil lines are in good condition and don’t dump old oil products into drains.
Help reduce carbon emissions to slow climate change. Changes in ocean temperature disrupt food chains impacting on the diet of penguins
Support conservation work to help protect penguins and conserve their habitats

Check out some great Penguin videos from BBC Earth below

Best of Penguins | Top 5 | BBC Earth

Penguins’ Amazing Survival Skills | BBC Earth

January 14, 2021January 25, 2021

My Spider Garden

I have been working in the garden to create a habitat for local wildlife. So far it’s the spiders that have found a safe home. I saw St Andrews Cross Spiders, Leaf-curling Spiders and Net-casting Spiders. I’ve had these species in my garden before and it is exciting to see so many again this year.

The new fence didn’t impact the spiders at all. There were several different spider egg sac, some freshly hatched spiderlings (the fuzzy mass in the middle) at least 2 Net-casting Spiders, 4 Leaf-curling Spiders and 5 St Andrews Cross Spiders just is this section of my backyard. I’ve highlighted some below in case you missed them.

I got some close up images too so you can see more detail. I especially love the Leaf-curling Spider shots.

It has been wonderful to see so many spiders and other invertebrates making a happy home in my garden. Surrounded by so many spiders and their webs I was surprised to find a newly hatched praying mantis. It was about 1cm in size and almost transparent, unfortunately it disappeared not long after this photo. I’ll keep an eye out, but I think this one has become someones lunch!

I have more spider images mostly from my backyard in the Spider Image Gallery. Find out more about spiders

January 1, 2021February 2, 2021

The year that was: 2020

I don’t think 2020 turned out the way anyone expected. In the first 2 months of the year Sydney experienced bushfires, droughts, heatwaves and then record rains and floods. Just when we thought the worst of 2020 was behind us, COVID-19 changed our lives for ever.

2020 was going to be My year of Sustainability and I was able to achieve some of my sustainability goals, however many were put on hold. During 2021 I will be able finish the journey I started.

Planting natives and building a frog pond

In 2020 my focus had to change and I began creating more education resources and activities and delivering online education programs. I created over 50 resources pages and activities focusing on earth and environmental science over the last 12 months.

Education resources

Activities

I have also been writing resources for the Junior Landcare Learning Centre. You can find the following resources on their website. Create a Wildlife Habitat with this series of 5 resources including: Research, Vision, Design, Planting and Monitoring.

Other activities I have written for the Junior Landcare Learning Centre explore the importance of water with Every Drop Counts. This activity also looks at water usage and water saving ideas. Investigate the journey of water through the environment, from the mountains to the sea, with the Exploring the Story of Water program designed for younger kids.

I have a series on catchments and water and a series on a beach survey and clean up for high school students coming out soon, so keep an eye out on the Landcare Learning Centre in 2021. I was also excited to be able to contribute to this year’s Coastcare Week campaign and wrote a following booklet on Marine Litter.

Like many other people in the education community I had to pivot to online delivery in 2020. I have been working with Virtual Excursions Australia for many years and was able to transition my programs for online audiences. I delivered programs for schools and individuals reaching thousands of students from across the world.

Another focus has been photographing some of the amazing wildlife I’ve come across during the year. Below is a selection of image taken at Sydney Zoo, central west NSW, central coast and my backyard. You can check out some of my favourite Macro images too.