Educational resources
Some of the most critical issues in Queensland are related to our natural resources and how we manage them. It's important to increase Queenslanders' awareness of these issues and the effect we all have on the health of our natural resources.
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Fish
- Landcare
- Natural resource management
- Reef and Wetlands
- Science
- Sustainability
- Water
- Weeds and Pests
- Wildlife
Agriculture
AgAware
AgAware is comprised of a numbers of modules that promote an understanding of sustainable agriculture to both rural and non-rural areas. They are designed for primary school students and are free to schools.
AgAware was developed by the AgAware Group with the Queensland Studies Authority, so the modules are suitable for implementation in schools. The modules can be used as a whole, or separately.
To find out more about AgAware visit Education Queensland's Learning Place.
Environment
EnviroNorth: Living sustainably in Australia's savannas
A new environment and NRM education web site developed for schools, involving students and teachers.
The site has three sections: Teach Savannas (classroom teaching and learning materials), Learn Savannas (structured interactive module on native plants and animals and NRM issues), and Savanna Windows (an educational version of the Savanna Explorer website).
While focussing on the Northern Territory, the site will extend to Queensland and Western Australia in the future.
To find out more visit the EnviroNorth website.
Green & Healthy Schools program
The Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland initiative is a curriculum-based program, running from January to October. Designed to develop an understanding of the benefits associated with for the community and the environment.
Encourages teachers and students to work together, tackling issues such as water and energy conservation, environmental protection, youth initiatives, litter prevention, and community partnerships.
Find out more on the Green & Healthy Schools program website.
Rainforest Explorer
Rainforest Explorer is a curriculum package on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
World Heritage rainforests and other vegetation, plants and animals, the history of the area, and what different people in the community think about the area, are some of the topics covered in the package.
Rainforest Explorer is suitable for students from pre-school to Year 9 level. It contains videos, fact sheets, pictures, clip art and activity sheets.
To find out more, visit the Wet Tropics Management Authority website (and select the Resources for students & teachers link).
Fish
Aquatic Invaders (exotic pest fish)
Explains the impacts of pest fish infestation (such as carp and tilapia) on Queensland waterways. Aquatic Invaders teaches students about the dangers of introducing non-native fish into our waterways, how to prevent the spread of existing pest fish, and how to stop new pest fish being introduced.
Landcare
Learning Through Landcare
Run by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, this education program is for both primary and secondary students and their teachers. The project provides a resource and equipment library, an arts and drama program, and assistance to schools for grant applications. There are four ways for the students to learn through Landcare. You can find out more on the QMDC website.
Schools and Landcare (Landcare Australia)
The Landcare Online website suggests ways students and teachers can get involved in Landcare. Also provides links to awards and grants programs, youth forums, and Landcare programs in other states and territories.
Natural resource management
Department of Natural Resources and Water
Queensland's Department of Natural Resources and Water has developed a number of curriculum-based modules on sustainable NRM, aimed at primary school students.
Modules cover land management, catchment management, dung beetles, and water cycles and catchments. All are available to download on the NRW website.
Reef and Wetlands
Reef Guardians
Think you've got what it takes to become a Reef Guardian? Do you have a school project on the Great Barrier Reef? Do you want find out how you can help protect the Reef? Then visit the reefED website for more information!
Queensland Wetlands Programme
The Queensland Wetlands Programme has produced a range of interactive education and awareness-raising products dedicated to building community understanding of the importance of wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef catchments.
Wetlands.edu
A national wetland education and management training program designed to provide capacity building and skills development for regional and community investments in wetland-related assessment, planning and actions.
The program is aimed primarily at regional natural resource management and catchment bodies and their stakeholders, including Landcare and river management groups, local governments and private landholders.
Visit the Wetlands.edu website to find out more.
Science
Enterprise Education project (Queensland Government)
The Enterprising Research Education: Real World Science in Schools program gives high school students learning opportunites in NRM science by helping them develop dynamic and future-orientated research skills.
Find out more on Education Queensland's website.
Sustainability
Sustainability Education (Australian Government)
Sustainability education develops skills, knowledge and values that promote behaviour in support of a sustainable environment. Not confined to formal schooling, sustainability education also occurs at work and at home.
A wide range of information is available on the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website.
K-12 Education for Sustainability program
Created by the Terrain NRM regional body, this program provides curriculum-based resources on NRM issues and environmental activities in the Wet Tropics. Terrain NRM can also arrange school visits from members of local community groups. The program is best suited to students from kindergarten to grade 12.
Visit Terrain NRM's website to find out more.
Water
SEQ Healthy Waterways education resources
Education resources on the health and protection of the waterways in South East Queensland and Moreton Bay.
Available resources include fact sheets, posters, books, newsletters, and links to other useful education links. Visi the SEQ Healthy Waterways website to find out more.
Water: Learn it for life!
An online education program written by Queensland teachers targeting early and middle years school children. The program was designed to build student awareness and understanding of water as a significant environmental issue.
Visit the Water: Learn it for life! website to find out more.
Weeds and Pests
Weedbusters
Weedbusters is a national program that brings people together to stop the spread of weeds. In Queensland, the program is run by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. More activities and educational resources are available on the Weedbusters website.
Weed Warriors
Weed Warriors is a free national education program that aims to increase community awareness of, and involvement in, local weed issues. Schools partner with local weed officers, land managers, and community groups to implement a biological control program for a regional priority weed. Suitable to all levels of education, but often targeted at years 3-9.
Wildlife
Wildlife for Kids
Dreamworld's Wildlife for Kids program is an interactive, fun and informative educational program that promotes a greater appreciation of native Australian wildlife and the need for conservation. Suitable for children from kindergarten to year three.
Last updated 29 July 2008