Environmental Science - River Analysis
Years 9 - 10
Science & Humanities
90 minutes
$12 per student - 12 student minimum
Incursion Description
Go in-depth exploring the engineering of civil infrastructure on the Murray River, while having students investigate the economic and environmental impact of water management.
In this 90-minute session, students work in groups to:
explore how engineers control water flow using sluices, weirs and culverts,
work collaboratively using simple mathematical models to calculate water flow,
simulate river erosion, transportation and deposition, and
apply this learning to discuss and simulate a Murray River case study.
This engaging and content-rich session truly integrates STEM skills with humanities inquiry.
Pre-incursion class learning material is provided to maximise learning outcomes from our visit.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Chris, Year 10 Student
It was a highly beneficial lesson for myself and my peers, as a visual demonstration of the effects on a river system was more understandable than pure theory. Hydraulic jumps, sluices, weirs, culverts and more made a lot more sense as a result of this demonstration. After this lesson I have even begun constructing a hydraulic flume of my own!
Ro, Environmental Science Teacher
The Hydrology Incursion led by Andrew Cameron from EngEd Teaching Solutions was exactly what my Year 9/10 Environmental Science students needed to deepen their learning on water management. The lesson was engaging and linked to real world application as students conducted a range of inquiry type scenarios to view erosion and deposition in action. They were then able to engineer ways, using sluices and weirs, to reduce these impacts, just as a management bodies in our river systems do today. The content that was taught through this hands-on, practical activity (over a double period) would take much more time to teach in theory classes.
Penna, Year 10 Student
Helpful incursion to visually illustrate how hydrology in general works, using water, blocks, rocks and ducks to show the method. It can show how to solve issues linked with the Murray river assignment, so it was very useful. It showed what can be used in real life, instead by using smaller versions, so the incursion was very informative.
Curriculum Links
Australian Curriculum v9 Links
Science 9 - Apply the law of conservation of energy to analyse system efficiency in terms of energy inputs, outputs, transfers and transformations.
Humanities Skills 9 - Develop and evaluate strategies using environmental, economic or social criteria; recommend a strategy and explain the predicted impacts
Humanities/Geography 9 - Challenges to sustainable food production and food security in Australia and appropriate management strategies
Science Inquiry 9/10:
Questioning and PredictingAC9S10I01
Planning and Conducting AC9S10I02, AC9S10I03
Processing, Modelling, Analysing AC9S10I04, AC9S10I05
Evaluating AC9S10I06, AC9S10I07
Communicating AC9S6I06, AC9S10I08
Victorian Curriculum 2.0 Links
Science 9/10 - The use of scientific knowledge to address socio-scientific issues and shape a more sustainable future for humans and the environment may have diverse projected outcomes that affect the extent to which scientific knowledge and practices are adopted more broadly by society
Science 9/10 - The Law of Conservation of Energy can be analysed in systems, including Earth systems, by assessing the efficiency of energy inputs, outputs, transfers and transformations
Humanities/Geography 9/10 - Human-induced environmental changes and their impacts on the sustainability of places and environmental functions
Science Inquiry 9/10:
Questioning and Predicting VC2S10I01
Planning and Conducting VC2S10I02, VC2S10I03
Processing, Modelling, Analysing VC2S10I04, VC2S10I05
Evaluating VC2S10I06, VC2S10I07
Communicating VC2S6I06, VC2S10I08