Activity: AuSSI Biodiversity Audit – Secondary

Quick summary: In this practical and hands-on activity students complete a biodiversity assessment of their school. They begin by creating definitions for habitat terms, and then calculate the habitat percentage cover of different cover types (tree cover, roof cover, soft surfaces/grass, and hard surfaces) using a map of the school grounds. Through authentic learning experiences students assess the schools natural resources and where there is opportunities for further actions. Students create a biodiversity improvement development plan.

This lesson can be used when working on the Biodiversity Module of ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Certification. By completing this lesson you will have completed the following actions:

Biodiversity Checklist Compulsory Actions:

• A1 – Have you completed biodiversity assessments for your school’s grounds, including the identification and recording of:
  • Indigenous/native plants and animal habitat quality e.g. trees, understorey, ground cover weeds and soil management?
  • Linkages of school vegetation and habitats with surrounding areas?
• A1 – Has your Habitat Quality Assessment score been entered as your baseline data?

Checklist data goals:

• To estimate a ‘habitat quality score’ as well as the percentage of different elements in the school ground e.g. percentage of school grounds covered by buildings, asphalt, oval/lawn etc.

Australian Curriculum Links:

Cross curriculum priorities	Sustainability OI.1 – The biosphere is a dynamic system providing conditions that sustain life on Earth. O1.2 – All life forms, including human life, are connected through ecosystems on which they depend for their wellbeing and survival.
General capabilities	Critical and creative thinking, Numeracy
Explicit content description	Science Year 7 There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity (ACSSU111) Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs; human activity can affect these interactions (ACSSU112)
	Mathematics Year 7 Find percentages of quantities and express one quantity as a percentage of another, with and without digital technologies. (ACMNA158)
	Geography Year 7 Collect, select and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS048) Represent the spatial distribution of different types of geographical phenomena by constructing appropriate maps at different scales that conform to cartographic conventions, using spatial technologies as appropriate (ACHGS050)
	Science Year 8 People use science understanding and skills in their occupations and these have influenced the development of practices in areas of human activity (ACSHE136)
	Geography Year 8 Collect, select and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS056) Present findings, arguments and ideas in a range of communication forms selected to suit a particular audience and purpose, using geographical terminology and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS061) Reflect on their learning to propose individual and collective action in response to a contemporary geographical challenge, taking account of environmental, economic and social considerations, and predict the expected outcomes of their proposal (ACHGS062)
	Geography Year 9 Collect, select, record and organise relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS064) Present findings, arguments and explanations in a range of appropriate communication forms, selected for their effectiveness and to suit audience and purpose; using relevant geographical terminology, and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS070)
	Geography Year 10 The human-induced environmental changes that challenge sustainability (ACHGK070) The application of geographical concepts and methods to the management of the environmental change being investigated (ACHGK074) Collect, select, record and organise relevant data and geographical information, using ethical protocols, from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS073)

 Syllabus Outcomes: GE4-7, GE4-8, GE5-2, GE5-3, GE5-4, GE5-5, GE5-7, GE5-8, SC4-14LW, SC4-15LW, SC4-13ES. 

Connecting lessons: Native animal identification – must be completed as a compulsory action.

Resources required: Internet access, student worksheet, maps of school grounds (from Flash Earth or Google Maps), ruler, pencil, materials for making maps.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

There’s an app for that:

• Google Maps: Explore new places, discover local favourites, and navigate your world with Google Maps.
• Field Guide to Victorian Fauna: Detailed descriptions of animals, maps of distribution, and endangered species status combine with stunning imagery and sounds to provide a valuable reference that can be used in urban, bush and coastal environments.
• The Michael Morcombe and David Stewart eGuide to the Birds of Australia: The foremost field guide to Australian birds with a comprehensive collection of bird calls.
• Sea Life Victoria: An informative guide to over 200 of the marine animals that live in Australia’s southern habitats. The southern Australian coastline is known for its extraordinarily high number of unique species that are found nowhere else in the world.
• Bunurong Marine National Park Field Guide: This app presents images and information on over 300 species of marine and coastal animals and plants that can commonly be seen in Bunurong Marine National Park and nearby waters.
• Project Noah: Project Noah is the best way to share your wildlife encounters and help document our planet’s biodiversity.
• Field Guide to Pest Animals of Australia: This app contains pest information, distribution maps, photos, animal calls, control information and resource links for 53 pest species.

Weed links:

• Weed Identification Tool – Victoria
• Weed Identification Tool – Australian Government
• Manningham Council – Weeds Booklet
• City of Yarra – Removing Weeds and Planting Indigenous Alternatives

Keywords: Habitat, biodiversity, map, hectare, cover, percentages.

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