Using scientific equipment and an identification key on iPads, students look for biotic and abiotic indicators of the health of local waterways. The significance of water quality for the Murray-Darling catchment and factors affecting water quality are discussed. Activities also include examination of terrestrial invertebrate sampling techniques and the use of binoculars and bird identification app to identify local bird species.
Program details
Venue: Local waterways
Student participation fee - see Booking Information
Duration: 4 hours
Program overview
The program overview provides:
- a synopsis of the program
- links to relevant parts of the Australian Curriculum
- an indication of pedagogical strategies for the program's activities—based on Amaroo EEC's Pedagogical Framework (PDF, 198 KB)
- an outline of the teaching sequence.
Elements of the teaching sequence are colour-coded, showing which parts will be taught during the excursion by the Amaroo teacher/s and which should be covered by the classroom teacher (prior to or following the excursion) to fully cover the program's objectives. Suggestions are also given for relevant pre- or post-excursion activities and assessment tasks.
Program Overview (PDF, 599KB)
Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments (CARAs)
Because the activities associated with Amaroo's Stream Scene program are rated at a low or medium inherent risk level, specific curriculum risk assessment documents for this program are not required. The risk assessment documents below have, however, been prepared by Amaroo staff if you would like to use them. They are partially completed (using the program and site knowledge of Amaroo staff), but relevant details concerning your school/visit should be added once you have downloaded them. Each CARA should be approved by your school principal and filed for your records.
Amaroo Risk Assessment - Biological Activities (PDF, 407KB)
Amaroo Risk Assessment - Bushwalking (PDF, 369KB)
Amaroo Risk Assessment - Maintenance and Operation of a Safe Work Area Outside the Laboratory (PDF, 536KB)
Amaroo Risk Assessment - Pond Scooping & Water Quality Monitoring (PDF, 424KB)
Macroinvertebrate identification key
This program makes use of an app developed conjointly by Griffith University, Natura
Education and the Queensland Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres.
The app is free to download and use.
