Disappearing lakes
Australia’s longest river system is drying up and this is
having a huge impact on the people, plants and animals that rely
on it.
Focus Questions
1]
2]
3]
4]
5]
6]
7]
8]
9]
10]
Where are the lower lakes located?
Where does the freshwater of the Murray meet the Southern ocean?
Why are the lakes and Coorong important?
What has caused the water levels to drop in the River Murray and lakes?
What happens when the water dries up, exposing the soil underneath?
What solutions to the low water levels are being discussed?
What do opponents say about releasing the water upstream?
How many people rely on the river for water?
Why do you think this is an emotional issue for a lot of people?
Are there any other ways this problem could be tackled? Explain your answer.
Your choice
EPISODE 24
2ND SEPTEMBER 2008
Learning Area
Society and
Environment
Key learning
Students will
develop a deeper
understanding of
the issues facing
the Murray-Darling
river system.
Students will research issues about the Murray-Darling river system based on the activities they
choose. Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete.
Remember and understand

Create a timeline showing how people’s use of the Murray-Darling river system, has changed
over time.

Indigenous Australians have lived in harmony with the River Murray for thousands of years.
Research an Aboriginal Dreaming story about the River Murray or lower lakes area. What
rules for living does the story talk about? Share the story with the rest of your class.
Apply and Analyse

What is a healthy habitat and why is it important? Research what has happened to habitat in
the River Murray. What plant and animal species have been affected by decreasing water
flow?

Water from the River Murray is used to irrigate crops. Suggest how the severity of the
drought could be reduced if more crops were genetically modified to tolerate drought.

Play the Catchment Detox online game http://www.catchmentdetox.net.au/. The challenge is
to manage a river catchment so that after 50 years you have a healthy environment and a
healthy economy.
Evaluate and create

Brainstorm at least ten responses to the following statement: `It is not important to conserve
water.’

Paint or draw a river scene showing a healthy river environment.

Rising salinity is a problem facing the River Murray. Research the causes of rising salinity
and which animal and plant species are affected by it. Which plants and animals have
adapted to the changing conditions?
Reflection
What do you understand more clearly now?
What things you would do the same and what might you do differently next time?
 Related Research Links
ABC News – Not enough water to save Murray lower lakes
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/06/2325546.htm
ABC News – Government to speed up water buybacks for lower lakes
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/14/2335682.htm
ABC Lateline – Government says Murray’s lower lakes can’t be saved
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2326382.htm
ABC Catalyst – Coorong at the end of the line
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2232818.htm
ABC Science – Catchment Detox online game
http://www.catchmentdetox.net.au/
Murray Darling Basin website – Basin Kids eNewspaper `Pump up the volume’
http://www.mdbc.gov.au/subs/The_River/may2008/article3.html
SA Government website – Salinity and water quality
http://www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/salinity/index.html
Cloud seeding
In some parts of Australia, scientists are trying to squeeze
more rain and snow out of clouds. It’s called cloud seeding, but
what exactly is it?
EPISODE 34
25TH NOVEMBER 2008
Focus Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What was the main point of the story?
What is cloud seeding?
Draw a diagram that explains how it works.
When and how was cloud seeding discovered?
What chemical is used in cloud seeding?
How is cloud seeding being used in the snowfields?
Describe the impact it has had.
How has cloud seeding been used in other countries?
What do critics of cloud seeding say?
Create a plus, minus and interesting chart about cloud seeding.
Learning Area
English, Science
Key learning
Students will
further develop an
understanding of
the structure and
language features
of an information
report.
Information report
Students will be developing and information report about cloud seeding. Begin with a class
brainstorm to determine what students know about cloud seeding and key words associated with it.
Provide a range of information reports for students to read. The following website has examples
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html
In small groups, ask them to discuss the format and language features of information reports. They
can then use the following plan to help them write their report. There are some website links at the
end of this activity to help students with their research.
Information report plan
Headings
Definition
Key words
Description
Important facts about the subject in
paragraphs
Summarising comment
Students can publish their reports online at the following website
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html
or as a PowerPoint presentation.
Language features:

Written in the third
person, impersonal

Technical/scientific
language used

Timeless present
tense
Students can include
photographs, pictures or
diagrams in their report.
Self assessment
What did you learn from this experience?
If you were to carry out the task again, what would you do differently?
Further investigations
Respond to the following statement `Cloud seeding will solve the drought in Australia’.
Create a storybook about cloud seeding for a younger child.
Create a true or false quiz about cloud seeding.
 Related Research Links
ABC News – Snowy Mountains cloud seeding `paying off’
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/14/2390294.htm
Hydro Tasmania – Cloud seeding
http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Corporate/Generating_Power/Cloud_Seeding/Frequently_Asked_Qu
estions.htm
Climate Change Queensland Government - Cloud seeding trials
http://www.climatechange.qld.gov.au/response/cloud_seeding.html
CSIRO –Cloud seeding
http://www.cmar.csiro.au/e-print/open/holper_2001c.htm
Thredbo – Cloud seeding
http://www.thredbo.com.au/weather-and-conditions/snow-depth-chart/cloud-seeding.asp
Howstuffworks – Cloud seeding
http://science.howstuffworks.com/cloud-seeding1.htm
Murray-Darling
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
What are the two rivers that flow into the Murray-Darling Basin?
Why is the Murray-Darling Basin important for the environment?
Why is it sick?
Why has it been difficult to leave more water in the rivers?
The State Government’s decide who gets the water. True or false?
What is COAG?
What was decided at the recent COAG meeting?
Why is it seen as a good decision?
The Federal Government is going to spend billions of dollars on saving water. What is it
planning to do?
10. What else do you think could be done to help the Murray-Darling Basin?
Brumby discusses COAG meeting
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2200080.htm
Caring for the Murray-Darling Basin
http://kids.mdbc.gov.au/the_challenge
Murray-Darling Basin
http://rivermurray.com/html/about_the_murray/murray_darling_basin.html#water
Water over-allocation in Murray-Darling Basin
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/mdb/overallocation.html
Water Licences
Curriculum Outcome Links: Society and Environment/HSIE
DATE 4/03/08
Student learning outcomes
Students will:
 Develop an understanding of the importance of the Murray Darling basin.
 Develop an understanding of what water licences are.
 Reflect on how water restrictions affect the way people live.
Focus Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
How many states does the Murray Darling basin lie across? Name the states.
Why is it called the Murray Darling basin?
How much of the food produced in Australia comes from the Murray Darling basin?
How many Australians does the Murray Darling basin provide drinking water for?
Why are the wetlands important?
What is the environmental impact of too much water being pumped out by
irrigators?
7. Who distributes the water licences?
8. Why does the Federal Government want to buy back water licences?
9. How much are they planning to spend buying back licences from farmers?
10. How does this improve the health of the rivers?
Water Restrictions
In the same way that the Government is trying to decrease the direct use of water from the
Murray Darling basin by the farmers, the water use of householders and other groups in the
community are also being regulated.
Brainstorm how water restrictions affect you and your family. What changes have you had
to make to the way you live? Record your ideas.
Research what the water restrictions are in your state. How have restrictions changed in
the last 12 months. Has the recent flooding in some parts of Australia impacted on water
restrictions?
What else can the Government, industry and householders do to decrease the amount of
water being
used?
Present the information you have collected about water restrictions at a school assembly.
Follow-up Suggestions
NATURALISTIC
Visit the Basin Kids website and look at the photo gallery of native fish. Click on the name
of the fish to find out more. Why are native fish important to the Murray Darling basin?
http://kids.mdbc.gov.au/basin_fish/alien_fish
VISUAL – SPATIAL
Make a word puzzle or game (crossword, wonderword or pictionary) using words associated
with water. Try to include new or unfamiliar words in your puzzle or game.
INTRAPERSONAL
Think about your own water use at home. Keep a journal of what you and your family does
to conserve water around the home. What else could you do to conserve water?
INTERPERSONAL
Interview your local fruit and vegetable shop owner about how the drought has impacted on
their business. Where in Australia and overseas do they get their fruit and vegetables from?
LOGICAL AND MATHEMATICAL
Use the internet to research how much water is needed to produce food. Record your
findings in graph form.
VERBAL – LINGUISTIC
Write a response to the following statement: “Water is essential for basic survival of life on
Earth”.
BODILY – KINAESTHETIC
Play a game of charades – act out `water’ words.
 Related Research Links
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/26/2173120.htm
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/mdb/overallocation.html
http://www.mdbc.gov.au/subs/The_River/february2008/index.html
http://kids.mdbc.gov.au/__data/page/337/animation.swf
http://rivermurray.com/html/about_the_murray/murray_darling_basin.html#water