2. About How Many Species of Native Fish in the Murray-Darling System Are

Basin Plan

Focus Questions

1.  Discuss the main issues raised in the Basin plan story with another student.

2.  About how many species of native fish in the Murray-Darling system are

endangered?

3.  Why is the Murray-Darling Basin important to agriculture in Australia?

4.  The amount of water taken out of the Murray-Darling system over the

years has

a.  Decreased

b.  Increased

c.  Stayed the same

5.  What factors have contributed to the poor state of the river system?

6.  What is a water allocation?

7.  Describe both the farming and environmental side to the water allocation

issue.

8.  What did the Murray-Darling Authority recommend in their draft report?

9.  How have the farmers and environmental groups reacted to the report?

10.  What do you think should happen? Should farming or the environment

take priority?

Basin Plan

Students will research issues about the Murray-Darling river system based on the
activities they choose. Negotiate with students how many activities they will need
to complete.

Remember and understand

·  Learn more about the Murray-Darling Basin by completing the following quiz http://www.abc.net.au/science/games/quizzes/2008/murray-darling/

·  Create a timeline showing how people’s use of the Murray-Darling river system has changed over time.

·  Play the Catchment Detox online game http://www.catchmentdetox.net.au/. The challenge is to manage a river catchment so that after 50 years you have a healthy environment and a healthy economy. Record what the game taught you about balancing the environment with the economy.

·  Create an illustrated glossary of key Murray-Darling basin words.

Apply and Analyse

·  How have Aboriginal people used the Murray-Darling river system? Research ways they protected and preserved it.

·  Write a response to the following statement ` Water allocations should be maintained at their current level.’ Read your response to the class or small group and discuss.

·  Water from the River Murray is used to irrigate crops. Suggest ways to reduce the amount of water needed to grow crops, for example genetic modification to make them more drought tolerant.

Evaluate and create

·  Choose a native fish or animal that lives in the Murray-Darling Basin. Create a profile that includes pictures, key information and an explanation about why the fish/animal is unique. Display the research findings in a Power Point presentation or poster.

·  Paint or draw a river scene showing a healthy river environment.

·  Investigate irrigation practices in the Murray-Darling Basin. Comment on the efficiency of each and make some recommendations about future practices.

8 Related Research Links

ABC Behind the News – Food Bowl

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2823678.htm

ABC Behind the News – Water licences

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2219596.htm

Murray-Darling Basin Authority – The Basin Plan

http://thebasinplan.mdba.gov.au/

Murray-Darling Basin Authority - FAQs The Basin Plan

http://www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan/faqs/basin-plan

ABC News – Murray-Darling Authority bows to pressure

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/18/3040678.htm

ABC News - Inquiry called as basin plan anger grows

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/14/3038506.htm

ABC News – Murray-Darling regions already making cuts

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/15/3039062.htm

Cloud seeding

Focus Questions

1.  What was the main point of the story?

2.  What is cloud seeding?

3.  Draw a diagram that explains how it works.

4.  When and how was cloud seeding discovered?

5.  What chemical is used in cloud seeding?

6.  How is cloud seeding being used in the snowfields?

7.  Describe the impact it has had.

8.  How has cloud seeding been used in other countries?

9.  What do critics of cloud seeding say?

10.  Create a plus, minus and interesting chart about cloud seeding.

Information report

Students will be developing and information report about cloud seeding. Begin with a class brainstorm to determine what students know about cloud seeding and key words associated with it. Provide a range of information reports for students to read. The following website has examples http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html

In small groups, ask them to discuss the format and language features of information reports. They can then use the following plan to help them write their report. There are some website links at the end of this activity to help students with their research.

Information report plan

Headings / Key words
Definition
Description
Important facts about the subject in paragraphs
Summarising comment

Students can publish their reports online at the following website http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html

or as a PowerPoint presentation.

Self assessment

What did you learn from this experience?

If you were to carry out the task again, what would you do differently?

Further investigations

Respond to the following statement `Cloud seeding will solve the drought in Australia’.

Create a storybook about cloud seeding for a younger child.

Create a true or false quiz about cloud seeding.

8 Related Research Links
ABC News – Snowy Mountains cloud seeding `paying off’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/14/2390294.htm

Hydro Tasmania – Cloud seeding
http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Corporate/Generating_Power/Cloud_Seeding/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm

Climate Change Queensland Government - Cloud seeding trials
http://www.climatechange.qld.gov.au/response/cloud_seeding.html

CSIRO –Cloud seeding
http://www.cmar.csiro.au/e-print/open/holper_2001c.htm

Thredbo – Cloud seeding
http://www.thredbo.com.au/weather-and-conditions/snow-depth-chart/cloud-seeding.asp

Howstuffworks – Cloud seeding
http://science.howstuffworks.com/cloud-seeding1.htm

Food Bowl

Focus Questions

1.  Briefly summarise the key points from the BtN story.

2.  Why is the Murray-Darling Basin called the `food bowl’?

3.  What percentage of food production in Australia comes from the Murray-Darling Basin?

4.  What is happening to the Basin and what effect is it having on food production?

5.  Where in Australia did they think might be a future food bowl?

6.  What is a key factor when considering places to grow food?

7.  What did a panel of experts decide?

8.  Why is Tasmania now being considered as Australia’s future food bowl?

9.  On a scale of 1-10, how important do you think this issue is? Explain your answer.

10.  What are some other solutions to the problem of growing food in Australia?

Food Bowl

After watching the BtN Food bowl story, divide students into groups of 3-4. Provide each group with a printed transcript of the story. These are in the Teachers section on the BtN website http://www.abc.net.au/btn/teachers.html#teachertools . Each group member takes it in turns to read a sentence aloud while the others in that group listen. When the transcript has been read completely, ask the students to answer Who, What, Where and Why questions about that topic. Students record their responses on a large sheet of paper. Regroup as a class and discuss the answers given. Each group can present any points they would like clarified or that they would like to discuss or research further. They can also highlight any words or phrases they are unsure about and research the meaning.

Students then need to write a paragraph explaining what the food bowl is. Include the following:

·  A brief description of the food bowl in the Murray-Darling Basin

·  Why the search is on for another food bowl

·  Places in Australia being considered as future food bowls and pros and cons of each

Students can use maps, illustrations or photographs to support their explanations.

Organise with another class to share students’ explanations. This can be done as an oral presentation, poster or a multimedia format.

Further investigation

Research the major challenges facing the Murray-Darling Basin and what action is being taken to address the challenges.

8 Related Research Links
ABC News – Report kills northern food bowl dream
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/08/2812753.htm

ABC News - Indigenous `fear’ northern food bowl
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/08/2813594.htm

ABC 730 Report – Northern Food Bowl dream crushed
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2822834.htm

ABC Science – Food bowl to dustbowl?
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/08/14/2335296.htm

ABC Science – Food crisis looms warn scientists
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/02/12/2816954.htm?topic=enviro&WT.mc_id=news_climatechange

Murray-Darling Basin Authority – Official website
http://www.mdba.gov.au/

Murray-Darling Basin Authority – Basin Kids
http://kids.mdbc.gov.au/

Murray-Darling

1.  What are the two rivers that flow into the Murray-Darling Basin?

2.  Why is the Murray-Darling Basin important for the environment?

3.  Why is it sick?

4.  Why has it been difficult to leave more water in the rivers?

5.  The State Government’s decide who gets the water. True or false?

6.  What is COAG?

7.  What was decided at the recent COAG meeting?

8.  Why is it seen as a good decision?

9.  The Federal Government is going to spend billions of dollars on saving water. What is it planning to do?

10.  What else do you think could be done to help the Murray-Darling Basin?

Brumby discusses COAG meeting
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2200080.htm

Caring for the Murray-Darling Basin
http://kids.mdbc.gov.au/the_challenge

Murray-Darling Basin
http://rivermurray.com/html/about_the_murray/murray_darling_basin.html#water

Water over-allocation in Murray-Darling Basin
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/mdb/overallocation.html