Keep it clean
Where do bunyips live?
This activity is linked to the National Profiles, Level 1, Science.
Materials:
The
Monster that Ate Canberra or Alexander Bunyip
by Michael Salmon, if possible cardboard
for posters
Magazines to be cut up
Safety scissors
Glue
Colouring-in materials
Image of happy bunyip
Image of sad bunyip
This exercise is an introduction to natural and non-natural environments. The idea is to have students correctly distinguish between naturally occurring elements and man-made or non-natural elements. Bunyips live in billabongs, far away from humans, they cant live in polluted over crowded areas (ok, Im extrapolating). This is a great starting point to go on to discuss pollution, recycling and things young people can do to preserve our environment.
If possible, use The Monster that Ate Canberra or Alexander Bunyip by Michael Salmon as stimulus material, but if not, any story dealing with an animal unable to cope with environmental change will do.
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Show class images of waterholes
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Brainstorm all the natural elements that may occur in this type of environment
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Make a poster using magazine cut-outs, coloured paper and other materials to describe a natural environment
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Colour in a happy bunyip and stick him in the middle of the poster, this is where a bunyip would live
Brainstorm
ways this environment can be changed by adding non-natural
elements.
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Discuss non-natural elements such as rubbish, lunch wrappers, concrete carparks, etc.
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Discuss why the bunyip would not like living here. If possible, read The Monster That Ate Canberra by Michael Salmon
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Make a poster using magazine cut-outs etc. that illustrate a non-natural environment where the bunyip would be unhappy
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Colour in an unhappy bunyip and stick him in the middle of the poster, a bunyip would be unhappy here.
National
Profiles, Level 1, Science
Earth and Beyond
A student
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Identifies natural and built features in the local landscape
Life and living
A student
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Identifies own bodys needs and the needs of various familiar animals and plants
Working Scientifically
A student
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Lists what is known about familiar situations and suggest questions and ideas or investigations
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Carries out procedures and instructions that have a small number of steps
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Talks about or draws or acts out observations and makes suggestions about what these could mean
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Makes links between what they see and do in the classroom and everyday life
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Identifies the way science is used in everyday life
Also links to Level 1 SOSE:
- Place and Space
- Natural and Social Systems
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