Biodiversity, Frogs and the Pond Ecosystem
Term 3 2023 Green week children discussed biodiversity and explored the pond ecosystem, food webs and the frog life cycle. We have placed a tadpole tank in the investigation station and visited our frog pond to discuss upcoming renovations.
Native Plants and Bush Tucker
In Term 1 2023 Green Week we began planning our new Bush Tucker Garden. The Bush Tucker Garden has been made possible by the Sustainable School Grant.
Children understand that native plants are more sustainable and that we can use these plants for a number of things including in our kitchen garden program.
Children investigated traditional uses of natives plants and studied Aboriginal Symbols and rock art and then painted a rock. Class sets of these rocks were transformed into a Stepping Stone Serpent and will feature in the Bush Tucker Garden.
Paper
Education in Term 2 2023 Green Week was about the impact paper has on our environment. We learnt about how paper is made and how it is recycled. We tend to be a little wasteful with paper because it is biodegradable and recyclable. It is certainly better than plastic. But paper does have an impact.
It takes a lot of water to make paper. We need 2 litres of water to make one piece of paper. It takes energy to make and to recycle paper. There is deforestation and although trees are a renewable resource, the process takes a long time. In the paper making process bleach and other chemicals are used to brighten and thicken the paper. And 25% of our landfill is paper products.
Our message during Green Week this term was simply not to be wasteful. All classes made Handmade Paper and this paper will be used as a book cover for their new Nature Journals.
The Black Soldier Fly
Green Week 2022
Every Green Week we discuss sustainable practices across K-6 during their library time. During this Green Week we learnt about the importance of insects in our natural environment. We took a closer look at ARC Ento Tech and their innovation around solving our landfill problems.
A solution to a global environmental problem
Bernadette
the
Black Soldier Fly
Following a STEM design process format we looked at what ARC are doing and how they were able to use science, technology and engineering to create a possible solution to a very real global problem - Landfill.
Students looked at the Black Soldier Fly at every stage of their life cycle under microscopes.
Older students drew the life cycle
Younger students did a life cycle craft
The BSF at the larvae stage do the hard work consuming organic waste ferociously.
We gave our BSF larvae a treat. The time-lapse is over 4-5 hours.
ARC Ento gave us a few other creatures to investigate
.jpg)
Or visit https://www.arcentotechltd.com.au/
To learn more about the ARC Ento process click the botton bellow
Single-use Plastic 2021
​
Green Week education was about single-use plastic. Students learned about why single-use plastic is an environmental issue and discussed alternatives. Activities included topics about how long items take to decompose and how oceans are affected by plastic and how to create a waste-free lunchbox.
All students made their own beeswax wrap.
​
This video was created by the Sustainability Team at Empire Bay Public School.
19.11.2021
Students recap the fun in this video, sending the message to use less Single-use plastic.
