Who's that in THAT habitat?
Ready to dive into this next task? Or maybe you'll fly, climb, hop or scurry. Which ever mode you take you'll be roaming through Australia's diverse environments. From the coast to freshwater, forest to desert, woodlands to urban environments you'll find native Australian animals sneaking, snapping, stomping and swimming just about everywhere! But why do some animals only live in one type of environment? What is it they are looking for in these environments? What impacts are people having on these environments, and therefore our cute Koalas and cranky Crocs and every Aussie animal in between? And, why CAN'T you have a pet Kangaroo? Well come with me and let's explore...
Coastal Habitats
"Coasts are places where the land meets the sea. Australia is an island and has a
huge coastline that has many different habitats. Coastal Australian habitats include
beaches, rock pools, estuaries and mangroves" - Australianmuseum.net.au
What Native Australian animals do you think you'd find in a coastal habitat? Discuss with a friend.
Now click here to explore the coastal creatures of Australia.
How many did you already know?
huge coastline that has many different habitats. Coastal Australian habitats include
beaches, rock pools, estuaries and mangroves" - Australianmuseum.net.au
What Native Australian animals do you think you'd find in a coastal habitat? Discuss with a friend.
Now click here to explore the coastal creatures of Australia.
How many did you already know?
Freshwater Habitats
"Freshwater habitats include lakes, rivers, billabongs, wetlands and ponds. Many
animals and plants live in or near these habitats. They rely on them to provide
food, shelter and a place to breed" autralianmuseum.net.au
Banjo Patterson's poem The Man from Snowy River tells a tale of the wild horses that roam this vast land and paints a picture of the rough landscape of the A.C.T. The Snowy River, where "the Man" comes from is the highest point of the Great Dividing Range, a mountain range separating NSW and Victoria. The Snowy River is a Freshwater habitat and home to an array of wildlife. Watch the video and listen to The Man from Snowy River poem, can you recall 3 types of native Australian trees mentioned in the poem?
FUN FACT!
"Frogs have thin, porous skin of frogs and tadpoles makes them sensitive creatures. Through this skin, they absorb chemicals from the air and water. For this reason, frogs are good indicators of environmental damage" -
Let's explore some freshwater friends, hover your mouse over each picture...
animals and plants live in or near these habitats. They rely on them to provide
food, shelter and a place to breed" autralianmuseum.net.au
Banjo Patterson's poem The Man from Snowy River tells a tale of the wild horses that roam this vast land and paints a picture of the rough landscape of the A.C.T. The Snowy River, where "the Man" comes from is the highest point of the Great Dividing Range, a mountain range separating NSW and Victoria. The Snowy River is a Freshwater habitat and home to an array of wildlife. Watch the video and listen to The Man from Snowy River poem, can you recall 3 types of native Australian trees mentioned in the poem?
FUN FACT!
"Frogs have thin, porous skin of frogs and tadpoles makes them sensitive creatures. Through this skin, they absorb chemicals from the air and water. For this reason, frogs are good indicators of environmental damage" -
Let's explore some freshwater friends, hover your mouse over each picture...
Forest Habitats
Let's now go for a mental walk through the Australian forest; which we often refer to as 'the bush'. Put your earphones on and close your eyes as you listen to the sounds of the bush, are there any bird calls you recognise? Click on the link below..
"Forests are places with tall trees and a thick canopy. In Australia the three
main types of forest include dry forests, wet forests and rainforests" - autalianmuseum.net.au
main types of forest include dry forests, wet forests and rainforests" - autalianmuseum.net.au
Desert Habitats
Australia has ten deserts in total: the Great Victorian Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Tanami Desert, Simpson Desert, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Strzelecki Desert, Sturt Stony Desert, Tirari Desert and the Pedirka Desert.
"70% of the Australian mainland is classified as semi-arid, arid or desert;
making it the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Only Antarctica is drier"
Here are the main 5 Australian deserts
"70% of the Australian mainland is classified as semi-arid, arid or desert;
making it the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Only Antarctica is drier"
Here are the main 5 Australian deserts
Now browse the following website to discover who's hiding from the heat in the desert. CLICK HERE
How many Spinifex Hopping Mice did you count?
How many Spinifex Hopping Mice did you count?
Woodlands Habitats
"Woodlands are places where the trees are spaced apart with heath and grassland
in between. They often have open grassy spaces as well as clumps of trees, rocks
and bushes" Australianmuseum.net.au
Now slither over to a Scootle activity and use your knowledge to predict the animals that live in each environment. CLICK HERE
You can also have fun in the Cassowary Sanctuary. CLICK HERE
in between. They often have open grassy spaces as well as clumps of trees, rocks
and bushes" Australianmuseum.net.au
Now slither over to a Scootle activity and use your knowledge to predict the animals that live in each environment. CLICK HERE
You can also have fun in the Cassowary Sanctuary. CLICK HERE
Urban Habitats
What's in YOUR backyard? Although there are LOTS of people living in cities and built up areas around Australia, there are many native animals that we share this space with. Quite a few animals have adapted to living in our parks, garden and in and around our buildings and harbours. Can you think or native animals that are close to where you live?
Conservation in our Nation!
Where do our fury (and not-so-fury) friends go when native forests are destroyed?
TIIIMMMBBBEERRRRR. Take a look at this video and consider what happens to animals when forests are destroyed.
Discuss with a friend:
1. How does this video make you feel?
2.Name some animals that might be directly effected by cutting down lots of trees?
3. Could you waste less paper?
TIIIMMMBBBEERRRRR. Take a look at this video and consider what happens to animals when forests are destroyed.
Discuss with a friend:
1. How does this video make you feel?
2.Name some animals that might be directly effected by cutting down lots of trees?
3. Could you waste less paper?
Are you ready to be creative little creatures?
Choose a Native Australian Animal that you've seen in this iQuest and prepare to build it a habitat...well, a model one. That's right, we're going to make dioramas! What's a diorama? Check this out.
To create your diorama you will need:
1. A big rectangular box
2. Craft supplies - paper, cellophane, lolly pop sticks, pencils, glue etc
3. Objects from the environment - sticks, dirt, tree leaves (be sure not to damage the tree),
You must include:
1. Your animal
2. .A display of the environment that the animal lives in
3. The animal's food source
4. A short statement of a fun fact about your animal (e.g - an Emu can run at speeds up to 45km/hr)
Use the resources on the following websites to create your diorama AND unleash your WILD IDEAS!!
To create your diorama you will need:
1. A big rectangular box
2. Craft supplies - paper, cellophane, lolly pop sticks, pencils, glue etc
3. Objects from the environment - sticks, dirt, tree leaves (be sure not to damage the tree),
You must include:
1. Your animal
2. .A display of the environment that the animal lives in
3. The animal's food source
4. A short statement of a fun fact about your animal (e.g - an Emu can run at speeds up to 45km/hr)
Use the resources on the following websites to create your diorama AND unleash your WILD IDEAS!!