Welcome Parents/Carers,
Do we have a future
without a healthy river?
News
Pty. Ltd., 2018)
In the Civics and
Citizenship - Sustainability unit we are investigating the management of the
Murray-Darling Basin. Sustainability education develops informed action that
supports more sustainable patterns of living, this requires consideration of
environmental, social, cultural and economic systems and their interdependence
(Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2016).
K5
learning intention:
- How do laws and regulations protect the environment?
- How and why do people participate in groups to achieve shared goals?
- How do we use resources in sustainable ways to satisfy the needs and wants of present and future generations?
View –
‘What caused the death of a million fish in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin?’
I want the students to
understand that being sustainable is essential but complex in nature. The
Murray–Darling Basin Plan was developed to bring the river and flood plains
back to a healthier and sustainable level, while continuing to support a
complex network of people, industries and organisations with competing
interests for the benefit of the Australian community” (Murray-Darling Basin
Authority, 2019)
(Marohasy, 2011) (Scoop.it!, 2019)
(Fairfax Media, 2011)
The students will be able
to identify the importance of the democratic process by considering economic,
environmental and social factors and different stakeholders’ point of view. Develop
questions, locate and collect information from online and real-life sources,
identify the purpose of that information, and present different viewpoints,
evidence and possible solutions on how to respond to the mismanagement of the
Murray Darling Basin.
We will research online
the Murray-Darling Plan from the
perspectives of the different stake holders. Talk about sustainable irrigation
- visitors from Goulburn Broken Catchment Authority, which is situated in
northern Victoria. The Goulburn Broken Catchment protects and manages the
catchments of the Goulburn and Broken rivers and part of the Murray-Darling
Basin (Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, 2017). Take part in a
local revegetation (Tree-planting) day on the Goulburn river and experience a
field trip to local irrigators – local primary producers.
The students will be
divided in four groups:
• The River (environment)
• Government
• The irrigators
• People in communities (including Aboriginal communities)
The assessment will
involve each group developing their argument and to participate in the democratic
process of debate. The government has the power to enforce rules, change
water allocations and protect the Murray-Darling Basin for present and future
generations.
(NTD
News, 2019)
How
can you support your child’s learning?
Watch the clip and have
discussions drawing from your family’s knowledge, you may have irrigators or
friends and family that live along the Murray-Darling Basin. Please contact me
if you are able to give a personal recount to the class.
A great water saving
website designed for the home.
Water corporation - https://www.watercorporation.com.au/save-water/water-saving-tips#bathroom
This unit can be
confronting for some students as there are images of dead and dying animals. I
am always available to address concerns and provide support.
Thank you
Kim McLachlan
Reference List
Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting Authority. [ACARA] (2016, December 16).
The Australian curriculum: Civics and
Citizenship (Version 8.3). All year levels. Retrieved
from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/download/f10
Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting Authority. [ACARA] (2016, December 16).
Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities/sustainability/
Fairfax Media. (2015). Murray darling basin plan: Communities, farmers, business owners speak out. [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/5233691/five-reasons-the-murray-darling-basin-changes-matter-to-you/?cs=4785
Goulburn
Broken Catchment Management Authority. (2017). Who are we & what do we do?.Retrieved from https://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/about_us/who_we_are_what_we_do
Guardian
Australia. (2019). What caused the death
of a million fish in Australia’s Murray-Darling
Basin?
[clip]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gtv4G3p-Rw
Marohasy,
J. (2011). Rice suits the Murray Darling Basin.
[Image]. Retrieved from https://jennifermarohasy.com/2011/03/rice-suits-the-murray-darling-basin/
Murray-Darling
Basin Authority. (2019). A plan for the
Murray–Darling Basin. Retrieved from https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin-plan/plan-murray-darling-basin
News
Pty Ltd. (2018). Murray darling basin plan:
Down water offsets achieved. [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id.=53B243E6209302719EFF6EBA4A0E87EE0AD1A675&thid=OIP.JJBmF3ovXcboeBxubHAfhwHaEK&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsapi.com.au%2Fimage%2Fv1%2F76e1ce5216b0ee7a0392408b001d3c1e%3Fwidth%3D1024&exph=576&expw=1023&q=murray-darling+basin&selectedindex=18&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6
NTD
News. (2019). New fish kill in Murray-Darling
Basin as emergency meeting called in Canberra. [Image] Retrieved from https://www.ntd.com/new-fish-kill-in-murray-darling-basin-triggers-emergency-meeting-called-in-canberra_276637.html
Scoop.
It! (2019). Murray darling basin.
[Image]. Retrieved from https://www.scoop.it/topic/murray-darling-basin-geog
