Thursday 2 February2006

Students in the twin cities are set to boost their knowledge of wetlands with a new school environmental education curriculum unit, launched at Townsville Central State School on World Wetlands Day today (2 February 2006).

The unit is part of a series of educational products produced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to coincide with World Wetlands Week from 2-8 February.

GBRMPA Education Manager Fred Nucifora said the curriculum unit for middle school students in grades five to eight showed wetlands were vital to the Great Barrier Reef.

“The new curriculum unit is a fun and interesting way to show school students the valuable and diverse role wetlands play in the ecosystem,” he said.

“The unit encourages students to investigate and explore wetlands in local areas, highlighting the unique ecological mix of plants and animals that depend on the wetland for food, water and shelter.

“Wetlands are vital to the Great Barrier Reef, with a range of functions from protecting the coast and absorbing pollutants to purifying water and forming nurseries for fish.”

The curriculum unit provides teachers with a developmental and sequential teaching unit, in addition to information about the types of wetlands.

“The unit is aligned to outcomes in society and environment and science units for teachers, providing them with all the information to deliver a comprehensive and thorough examination of local wetlands,” Mr Nucifora said.

It is part of a broader school education programme run by the GBRMPA to educate Australian and international students about the Marine Park.

Other education products produced around the wetlands theme include new “Reef Beat” posters and a web quest. The ten educational posters are aimed at students from grade five to ten, with an activity book examining the value and use of wetlands.

The interactive online activity allows students to participate in a simulated monitoring of PH-levels and biological oxygenisation, and testing for macro-invertebrates.

These educational products were developed under the Queensland Wetlands Programme to support the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, a ten-year programme to halt and reverse the declining water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef. For more information visit www.deh.gov.au/water/wetlands/qwp 

Photo/vision opportunities:
Students from Townsville Central State School will be testing the curriculum unit today (2 February 2006) at 11.30am at the school in North Ward, Townsville.

Interview opportunities:
GBRMPA’s Education Manager Fred Nucifora and National Education Programme Manager Angela Colliver, Townsville Central State School Principal Anthony Ryan and Townsville Local Marine Advisory Chair Steve Maguire.