Discovering wetlands in Australia - a primary classroom resource

Greetings Everyone:

I have recently received information from Sarah Stuart-Smith, the Ramsar CEPA Government Focal Point in Australia, regarding a new resource kit for teachers about wetlands, Ramsar and Australia. Produced for World Wetlands Day 2011 and the Ramsar Convention’s 40th anniversary Discovering wetlands in Australia – a primary classroom resource is a resource package for teachers primarily intended for working with Primary School Years 3-6, but also relevant for wetland education centres and others.

It starts with a brief section on Why teach your class about wetlands? and in just eight paragraphs does a good job of showing the value of wetlands in our everyday lives as well as for birds and other wildlife. It gives a very pleasing focus on Ramsar too, showing the role of the Convention and introducing World Wetlands Day.  In the main section teachers are provided with six activities about wetlands covering themes such as Water and Wetlands, Wetlands and Forests, What is a Ramsar Site etc., and each sets out a specific purpose for the activity and details a number of actions including web-based searches, class discussion, artwork and other hands-on activities. In addition there is a detailed glossary for teachers just to keep them a few steps ahead of the children!  Also included in the hard copy of the pack is the Ramsar movie.

The resource package is currently available online here www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/classroom-kit.html

With best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat
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Sandra HAILS
CEPA Programme Officer
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
hails@ramsar.org
Tel: +41 22 9990176
Fax: +41 22 9990169
www.ramsar.org/CEPA-Programme/