Beautiful Badger Weir

This term, our whole school's integrated study has been about Sustainability. Each class normally has one session each week called Sustainable Futures in which we explore issues of living sustainably. Sustainable processes in our school are firmly in place and the norm. However as a whole school and across all levels we decided that we would use Sustainability as the driver for all curriculum areas.

Level 3 and 4 students went on an excursion last week to beautiful Badger Weir to look at a pristine environment and to see how and where some of our water is harvested. The water catchment area surrounding the weir has been managed for more that 100 years.
They also went to a water treatment plant as a contrast to see how waste water is treated in order for it to be ready to reuse.
I was lucky to be asked to go along!

 The students were asked to choose a mini environment by placing their hoop over an area that interested them. They were given small flags which they positioned to highlight points of interest in their "park". They explained the reason for their choices, deciding on a name for their "park". Students then became tour leaders, showing others around their "park", explaining why it is so significant and special.

 It was a freezing day but we were so surprised to see that the beautiful sunshine had heated up this magnificent tree and Jake just had to hug the tree...as then others did...how wonderful!

....and when we looked up, this was the canopy of this gorgeous old tree.

 At the Water Treatment Facillity we learnt about all that is being done for the environment.

This wet land area is home to a diverse range of creatures and through different  plantings, the water moving through is filtered by nature before joining the waterway, the Yarra.

We learnt about how the waste water is treated using natural bacteria and ways we can help such as being mindful of what goes into our waste water (eg. non organic material is a big problem as is washing powder with phosphates).

It was certainly an interesting excursion and highlighted the importance of these treatment plants and scientists and workers dealing with waste water in such a sustainable way. Of course we have a responsibility too, to make sure we do the right thing in our kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, gardens etc....