frog

CROAK

CREEKS
RIVERS
OCEANS
AND
KIDS
METAPROJECT

STEP 1
This project started with the challenge of writing a submission for funding made available by Warringah Council for grants of up to $2000 under the Schools Catchment Education program. The submission tied together past and present school environmental activities, a desire to acknowledge and support volunteer environmental school and community groups in the area, the classroom teaching and learning program and the innovative educational use of Information Technology. Some staff members were most helpful with information and possible contacts when they became aware of the quest (thanks Carole).

The ultimate challenge was to outline a financially viable project that could be physically managed with a class of twenty-eight students ranging from 7 to 10 years of age (and in classroom-speak, ranging in size from '2 watermelons' to '6 watermelons', but that's a "Fruit and Vegetable Market" story!) The motivating factor was the flash of inspiration that created the acronyn and metaphor CROAK. The next challenge was articulating the project management.

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STEP 2
Whilst waiting to hear if the submission was successful, preliminary classroom teaching and learning activities were implemented, because the class would need to swing into action if the grant was approved, and the classroom program would not be artificially interrupted if the grant was approved.
At this stage other staff members mobilized to develop an integrated approach. The RFF teacher (Science and Creative Arts) programmed 'cycles' - the water cycle and the frog life cycle. Frogs became the focus of the visual arts program, and soon the classroom walls were festooned with amphibians (thanks Gillian). A minibeasts project was researched and presented (thanks Angela). Reading group activities incorporated the theme, and a wonderful collection of assorted books, frog puppets and soft toys appeared in the classroom (thanks Christine and Sandra). We learnt some frog songs and played percussion to 'Tiddalick' (thanks Jay).

A Teachers' Aide very efficiently used the Warringah Council Internet site and telephone book to generate a list of possible school and community contacts in the event of our success, and provided a list of possible video camera purchases (thanks Delia). The CROAK Web site was established.

STEP 3
Our Grant application was successful (thanks Warringah Council). We were invited to attend the presentation at the Council Chambers. A small group of students was selected to accept the Grant and make a speech. It was very exciting to attend an official function. (thanks Leanne Anthony - Warringah Council, and thanks families of student representatives)
Cost
Item/Activity
$798
 Video cam-corder
$450
 Technical assistance for video production
$390
 Excursion to catchment/Environmental Education Centre
$300
 Teacher assistance with excursion, and video and Web site production
$50
 Donation to local volunteer environmental group
$1988
 TOTAL

STEP 4
A video camera was purchased. Contact was established with Sharon Kinnison from Narrabeen Coastal Environment Centre and an excursion organized (thanks Sharon). The excursion was excellent (thanks Gillian and Sandra) - apart from the fact that both Sharon and class teacher had investigated the bushland catchment site the previous weekend and devised a plan of action, and on 'THE DAY' Sydney Water were flushing the water system for Guiardia and Cryptosporidium bugs and the creek was flooded. Oh well...the best laid plans etc. (Thanks Sydney Water!). The bus company and driver were most helpful and cooperative for our 'Magic Waterbus Tour'. (Thanks Boomerang buses)

STEP 5
The excursion was followed up with a variety of classroom activities - recount writing, illustrating, modelling etc. Working in our three reading groups, and in spite of many of those usual classroom interruptions such as District Track and Field events, Cultural Festival rehearsals etc we finally produced an excursion report based on the 3 creek areas - source, course, mouth (thanks Deirdre and Sandra). This mindmap was used to help recount the excursion and organise information.

Click on an area of the mindmap to see more detail

mindmap

STEP 6
CROAK Web site is constructed with student input so students gain Internet skills and understanding, eg. using digital camera to record images, typing text to be converted to HTML file, searching for links, researching project information such as minibeasts.

The site was growing bigger, so another dedicated Web site was established to make the Project more public and keep it separate from students' classroom work. (thanks Aussie School House)

Manly Environment Centre invited us to a Catchment Awareness day at Manly Lagoon (thanks James) and contribute art work, so more painting, pasting, glittering and gluing ensued, as we investigated freshwater minibeasts (thanks Jenny - who can know recognise a 2mm minibeast up close and personal at A3 size!).

STEP 7
The theme 'Birds' was chosen as a focus for Term 4 activities to encompass the Salford Project, an interactive exchange with a class at Saint Peters Primary School, Salford, Manchester, England and to tie in with our CROAK Project. Work started on the video editing.

HARDWARE / SOFTWARE and other resources

  • classroom Macintosh computer connected to Internet (thanks Eric)
  • Optus Internet cable connection
  • a network of 4 Windows 95 computers in the school Library (Information Technology Centre) connected to the Internet
  • Windows 95 home computer connected to the Internet
  • Claris Homepage, notepad, Paint Shop Pro
  • Panasonic 11 VHS-C video camera
  • Sony Mavica 5 digital camera
  • Iomega BUZ video editor
    • KLA  IT / INTERNET  TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY 
    English - Speaking & Listening  CROAK Project Award preparing and presenting a speech for accepting our grant 
    English - Writing  CROAK Project Award Writing a report about the grant presentation 
    Creative Arts  chalk frogs on black paper 
    S&T;/Creative Arts  Community Groups
    Kidpix frogs     		 a frog outline was coloured by each student using Kidpix 
    S&T;/Creative Arts  Community Groups
    WWWeb links frogs     		 Australian frogs were researched in books and on the Internet and coloured with crayon for a pond collage 
    English - Writing  CROAK Excursion Excursion recount writing 
    English/Science  WWWeb links Internet research  Minibeasts projects 
    Creative Arts  Freshwater creatures 'blown up' to A3, painted and glittered, mounted on cardboard and stakes 
    Performing Arts  singing frog songs, untuned percussion accompaniment 
    CROAK Project Index
    email: Anne Howard