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Launching your River Detectives learning in Term 2

Posted on April 18, 2023 by Nicole Howie | No Comments

This post comes to you gently – not with any obligation to do the suggested activities – but as support for your teaching and learning if you after some guidance . . . . .

If you’re busy planning your Term 2 program and looking for ways to introduce River Detectives to your students, these suggestions might help;

Watch our program’s claymation video
Watch a River Detective school’s story; Bridgewater PS NCCMA region, Stawell PS Wimmera CMA region or Dean’s Marsh PS North East CMA region
Explore the videos on our website and find a local one to suit you
Choose activities from one of our themed activity matrices
Dive into water quality testing and log your first lot of data for 2023
Have your students explore the website
Study maps of your region and catchment
Visit your water testing site, brainstorm what you know and what you’d like to know about your waterway/catchment or survey

There are also some wonderful environmental / cultural celebration dates coming up this term that tie nicely with River Detectives. Check out the 2023 Calendar with links to event websites and resources throughout this year. And here are the best resources we’ve collated on the River Detectives website to support this term’s events:

Nature Play Week, April 17-30; choose activities from our Nature Studies activity matrix
World Turtle Day, May 23; join scientists for an immersive field experience trapping for turtles in the Barmah-Millewa Forest on the Murray River in the virtual reality film experience or learn how to safely move a turtle off the road.
Reconciliation Week, May 27 – June 3; explore this year’s theme Be A Voice For Generations encourages all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Explore some of the short, engaging – and most importantly local videos – on our website along with other resources. All videos are Victorian, many will be regional and some may even be specific to your waterway/country.
World Environment Day, June 5; explore this year’s them of Solutions To Plastic Pollution by watching an eye-opening video of kayaking the sickest river in Australia or doing an activity about micro-plastics from the Stormwater/Runoff activity matrix.

As always we’d love to see photos or work samples of anything you do so flick them through to your regional coordinator !