Living world - A Nurragingy water study

Inquiry questions

• How do physical conditions affect the survival of living things?
•  How do the structural and behavioural features of living things support survival?

Outcomes

• Plant and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST3-1WS-S
• Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-4LW-S

Content

• Identifying, grouping and comparing living things
•  Interdependence
• Healthy environments

Cross Curriculum Priorities

• Sustainability

Activity 1 - Water quality & dipnetting

Students will utilise various tests to assess water quality in the ponds at Nurragingy. They conduct a survey of waterbugs as biological indicators of water quality.

Activity 2 - Soil quality

Students conduct various soil quality tests to gain an understanding of the health of soil at Nurragingy.

Activity 3 - Leaf litter bug survey

Students catch, identify and count leaf litter bugs. They look at the bugs with a hand lens to consider how specific body parts help the bug thrive in its habitat.

Activity 4 - Animal adaptations

Using clay and natural materials students work in small groups (~4) to build an animal that has adaptations for survival in its habitat. Explain the features which help it survive in that habitat.

Pre and post-excursion work available in the student worksheet (see below)

Student worksheet