Learning about our local waterways

In this lesson, students will connect with The Oyster Gardener short film and the themes presented in the film. Students will reflect on how young people can participate in conservation. Students will then dive into learning about the importance of shellfish reef systems in our Australian marine ecology, through practical examples of shellfish restoration projects in Australia. The lesson makes relevant, and real, the context of how oysters and other species and ecosystems contribute to improving water quality in our catchments.

Next, students will be invited to conduct research to find out about their local waterways and marine ecosystems. They will then undertake a mapping activity, drawing up a partnership model of the various groups and organisations who manage, protect and care for their local waterways and marine ecosystems. Finally, students will brainstorm and share ways that young people could get involved in caring for their local waterways and ecosystems.

This lesson takes a cross curricular approach, connecting Science, The Arts and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives. This resource has been developed to be used stand alone or in conjunction with the cross curricular ART classroom resource.



Credits and acknowledgements:

Curriculum material and mapping has been developed and written by the Noosa Environmental Education Hub with input from Kabi Kabi Traditional Custodian Beverly Hand.

You & Me Pictures and Regen Studios would like to thank the generous contribution of Doc Society Climate Story Fund for the development of these resources.

The Oyster Gardener is a You & Me Pictures film developed and produced in association with Regen Studios, and made possible with the support of the ABC, Screen Queensland, Doc Society and Shark Island Foundation.

Thank you toThe Nature Conservancy Australia, Noosa Environmental Education Hub, Noosa Integrated Catchment Assoc Inc (NICA), CSIRO Bribie Island, and Good Shepherd Lutheran College for their generous participation in the film.