Full Colour Panorama
Volcano Dreaming Overview
Footprints of the Western Volcanic Plains is Ecolinc’s newest signature curriculum program. It is designed for students in Years 4-7 and uses the panorama image titled ‘Volcano Dreaming’ as the stimulus for a range of curriculum resources, onsite activities, field work and outreach opportunities.
‘Volcano Dreaming is a set of 12 portable panels that assemble together to form a 12 metre long and 2 metre high photographic panorama which depicts life on the Western Volcanic Plains. The panel images can be used individually or as a complete set to form an entire panorama and can be easily assembled in the classroom. The panels can be hired (free of charge) from Ecolinc or from a number of City Councils, or alternatively, you can view the entire panorama or a specific panel in the slider below. The panels (panorama) are designed to educate students about the precarious nature of the wildflower grasslands, wetlands and woodlands found across the western volcanic plains.
Ecolinc’s ‘Footprints’ program aims to educate students about the biodiversity of the western volcanic plains, what has happened to it, what is being done to preserve it and what you can do to help.
Footprints Curriculum Resources
PANEL 1: THE DIVERSITY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN THE VOLCANIC PLAINS
PANEL 2: THE FORMATION OF THE VOLCANIC PLAINS
PANEL 3: THE IMPACT OF THE EUROPEAN RABBITS IN AUSTRALIAN ECOSYSTEMS
PANEL 4: SOIL TESTING AND SOIL PROPERTIES
PANEL 5: THE IMPACT OF SHEEP AND OTHER INTRODUCED ANIMALS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
PANEL 6: THE IMPORTANCE OF DUNG BEETLES IN GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS
PANEL 7: IDENTIFY AND CLASSIFY GRASSLAND PLANTS AND ANIMALS
PANEL 8: PROTECTING LOCAL GRASSLANDS
PANEL 9: PLANTS AND ANIMALS AT MT ROTHWELL
PANEL 10: WETLANDS THROUGH THE SEASONS
PANEL 11: EELS AND THEIR MIGRATION JOURNEY
PANEL 12: BIODIVERSITY IN AN OPEN WOODLAND
EXTENSION: 3D GRASSLAND AND WETLAND DIORAMA
What does the Footprints program contain:
- 12 student worksheets (one focusing on each of the 12 panels) and accompanying teacher notes, including background knowledge, materials list, resources and answers to the student worksheets.
- An extension activity (Student worksheet 13 and accompanying teacher notes). All of the student activities are designed to address levels 4-7 of AusVELs and are hands on, engaging and use a range of technologies.
- AusVELs curriculum information which outlines how the curriculum for each panel correlates with AusVELs.
- Species lists identifying the plant and animal species in each of the panels. A large number of species in the lists have been linked to Ecolinc’s Field Guide App so that students can learn more about each particular species.
- A range of Ecolinc excursions, field trips and outreach opportunities that complement the panels.
How the Footprints program can be used:
- The online curriculum resources e.g. Student worksheets and teacher notes, can be used as a unit of work, or alternatively as stand alone activities corresponding to each of the panels.
- The species lists can be used in conjunction with the online curriculum resources or as a separate animal and plant identification activity using the links embedded in the species lists to Ecolinc’s Field Guide.
- Ecolinc’s excursion activities, field work and outreach opportunities can be booked to form a holistic curriculum package.
The flexibility of the ‘Footprints’ program allows for schools to tailor a program that suits their needs.
Where you can hire the panels free of charge (individually or collectively):
- Ecolinc (03) 5367 0171
- Melton City Council (03) 9747 7200
- Melton City Council (03) 9747 7200
- Moonee Valley City Council (03) 9243 8888
- Hume City Council (03) 9205 2200
- Brim bank City Council (03) 9249 4000
The development of the online curriculum materials have been funded by the Melton City Council and developed by Ecolinc.