The story of a river revisited

Focus

This activity provides opportunities for students to apply ideas and concepts developed in this module to develop a scenario that demonstrates effective catchment management.

Science

Science and Society

5.3 Students analyse the relationship between social attitudes and decisions about the applications of science.

6.3 Students use scientific concepts to evaluate the costs and benefits of applications of science (including agricultural and industrial practices).

Earth and Beyond

5.3 Students prepare scenarios about the use of renewable and non-renewable resources of the earth and beyond.

6.3 Students argue a position regarding stewardship of the earth and beyond, and consider the implications of using renewable and non-renewable resources.

Materials

• Resource Sheet 2 - The Story of a River (PDF, 93K)* used in the introductory activity

Teaching considerations

Using ideas and concepts developed in this module, students revisit the introductory activity ‘The story of a river’, and rewrite the story to reflect good catchment management practices.

Working scientifically

Time: 60 minutes

• Applying ideas and concepts
• Analysing
• Formulating and elaborating ideas
• Creating presentations

Students reread ‘The story of a river’. Working in groups of four or five, students develop a presentation that includes:

• attitudes and knowledge of society that might have contributed to the initial problems
• inappropriate applications of science in the past
• the need for change
• current attitudes of society
• using current scientific ideas to solve catchment management problems
• options for the future. Rewrite the story of the river so that it reflects good catchment management practices.

Students could divide the tasks above among different group members then recombine the information for presentation to the class.

The presentation could take one of the following forms:

• PowerPoint presentation
• illustrated story suitable for Year 3 or Year 4 students
• poster
• video dramatisation of the story.

Gathering information about student learning

Sources of information could include:

• individual student contributions to the group project
• group presentations
• anecdotal notes about students’ contributions to discussion.

* Requires Adobe Reader

Last updated 2 August 2010

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