Background

This program is delivered by Prime Sci at Deep Creek.

Climate change, caused by humans, is affecting habitats all over the world. In this program students will use the Deep Creek wetland environment to investigate:

• the biodiversity of wetlands including freshwater macroinvertebrates, birds and frogs
• changes to temperature in man-made and natural environments
• use of renewable energy to reduce the impact of climate change

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge required

Key Learning questions

• What is climate change?
• What are the local impacts of climate change?
• What can be done to reduce the impacts of climate change?

Learning Intentions

• Use scientific inquiry skills
• Investigate different living things and how they depend on the local environment to survive
• Use scientific knowledge to help to understand the effects of human activity and natural processes
• Learn to collect and record observations, and compare results
• Discover how heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one object to another

Activities

Biodiversity

Changes to temperatures and rainfall, due to climate change, will change the biodiversity of wetlands. Investigate freshwater macroinvertebrates (waterbugs) to find out the current health of the Deep Creek wetlands. Compare results over time and other locations.

Temperature

2023 was the warmest year since global records began! Students use Micro:bit minicomputers and/or analogue thermometers to measure temperatures in different locations around the wetlands and buildings. How are people changing temperatures both locally and worldwide?

Renewable Energy

Here in Melbourne we still generate a lot of our electricity by burning coal, which contributes to climate change, but this is slowly changing. Using hands-on activities find out more about renewable ways to generate electricity including solar, wind and human power.

Victorian Curriculum Links

Year 3 – 4 Science

• Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions (VCSSU056)
• Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things (VCSSU057)
• Different living things have different life cycles and depend on each other and the environment to survive (VCSSU058)
• Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity (VCSSU062)
• Heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one object to another; a change in the temperature of an object is related to the gain or loss of heat by the object (VCSSU063)
• Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies (VCSIS067)
• Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations (VCSIS068)
• Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings (VCSIS070)
• Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language (VCSIS072)

Year 3 – 4 Geography

• Collect and record relevant geographical data and information from the field and other sources (VCGGC074)
• Main climates of the world and the similarities and differences between the climates of different places (VCGGK081)
• Types of natural vegetation and the significance of vegetation to the environment, the importance of environments to animals and people, and different views on how they can be protected; the use and management of natural resources and waste, and different views on how to do this sustainably (VCGGK082)

Year 5 – 6 Science

• Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to inform personal and community decisions and to solve problems that directly affect people’s lives (VCSSU073)
• Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (VCSSU074)
• The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (VCSSU075)
• Sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions can affect Earth’s surface (VCSSU079)
• Decide which variables should be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests and accurately observe, measure and record data (VCSIS084)
• Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations (VCSIS086)
• Suggest improvements to the methods used to investigate a question or solve a problem (VCSIS087)
• Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships (VCSIS088)

Year 5 – 6 Geography

• Collect and record relevant geographical data and information from the field and secondary sources, using ethical protocols (VCGGC088)
• Impacts of bushfires or floods on environments and communities, and how people can respond (VCGGK095)
• Environmental and human influences on the location and characteristics of places and the management of spaces within them (VCGGK096)