Introduction

In this activity, students are asked to apply and extend their learning by creating a wildlife garden website for their local community.

Gardens can have a significant contribution to local wildlife. Wildlife gardens may be planted with species that come from anywhere in Australia, or indigenous plants to the area or a combination of the two.

Activity

Overview of this activity:

1. Choose the website the project could be uploaded to.

2. Find out about the website design and how that affects the way material will be displayed.

3. Choose the themes the website will cover.

4. Make a list of all the material that needs to be written.

5. Assign small groups to different research, writing and photography tasks.

6. Bring together the material and edit it.

7. After uploading the material onto the website, advertise it so local people get to know about it.

Choose the website:

The website should be one that easily enables students to design a menu system and upload text, images and video.
The school website may be the easiest choice.
There might be a community website that is available.
Students may have access to an interesting alternative.

Website design:

Before any work on the website begins, find out how the design of the website might affect any of the material that can be uploaded. How does the menu work? How many words can go on a page before it looks too long? Where can images or video be placed? How big (or small) should images be?

Writing (or videoing) materials:

Students should make a draft of the information they wish to upload onto the website. Some suggested information is specified below.

Why have a wildlife garden? (Introduction) Describe the benefits of attracting wildlife around the home and the aesthetic value of nature.

How a garden can protect local biodiversity. Describe how habitat destruction can affect the genetic diversity of local species and why genetic diversity is important for the future survival of species and ecosystems.

Go big or go small. A wildlife project could take up a large part of a garden or just a corner. It could start as a corner and grow. Describe how even a small planting project is important.

Difference between indigenous and native plants. Describe the difference between native Australian plants and indigenous plants. Talk about the benefits of having some indigenous grasses and small plants in the garden.

Indigenous nursery. Describe what to expect from an indigenous nursery and how they can help choose plants. Where are the closest indigenous nurseries? Are there any other nurseries with a good supply of native plants?

Weeds. Discuss why weeds need to be controlled while the plants are stabling themselves.

Mulches. Discuss why mulch is important in controlling weeds and retaining moisture in the ground.

Native grasses. Describe some of the native grasses and how they are important to many native insects and birds.

Bushes. Describe some of the native bushes and how they are important for many native insects and birds.

Watering. Discuss the advantage of native and indigenous plants with regard to watering.

Pond or bogs. Describe some basic ideas about ponds and bogs. (A proper pond with water plants will not have mosquitoes and therefore fish are not necessary.)

Logs and rocks. Explain how rocks and logs provide additional homes for small creatures.

Assign tasks:

Find some local indigenous and native gardens that students can photograph and video as examples.
Divide up the writing tasks.
Identify those who want to produce diagrams for the website.
Identify an intranet file or USB where all the work including images will be saved.
Decide how the material will be edited.

Edit and review:

Remove any reference to individuals.
Confirm that the images, diagrams and video that are going to be used are not trespassing on someone’s intellectual property.

Advertising the website:

Use the school’s normal communication processes to advertise the website.
Consider writing a press release for the local paper.
Consider using other community communication networks to advertise.

Wildlife Garden Website

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Summary

Learning intentions:

Students will...

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