Stage 2 - Big idea: Australia’s Amazing Environments
Transcript of Stage 2 - Big idea: Australia’s Amazing Environments
Learning From Home – Stage 2: Term 3 Week 3 – 26/7/21

9:00-10:00 Reading activity
10:00-11:00 Writing Activity
11:00-11:30 Recess
12:00-1:00 Numeracy Activity
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:00 Mind, Body and soul
activity
This week students will be completing school work from home with the support of their teachers over the phone and on Class Dojo.
Attached is your child’s working from home learning pack. Your child is required to complete 1x Reading, 1x Writing, 1x Numeracy and 1x Mind, body & soul activity per day. Completed work should be posted in your child’s portfolio on Class Dojo. Please contact your child’s class teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
Learning from home timetable:
Stage 2 - Big idea: Australia’s Amazing Environments
This term we will be investigating the wide variety of environments that are found around Australia and how we can take care of our special place. This week our focus is on: Rivers and their Environments
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Learning From Home – Stage 2: Term 3 Week 3 – 26/7/21
Literacy MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Today’s text is “River Story” by Meredith Hooper. Here is the link
https://youtu.be/z_sNFS-VMvQ As you are listening to the reading of the text think about the vocabulary the author uses to make the river come alive. After listening to the reading answer the following questions. 1. What is the purpose of this text? (to persuade (persuasive), to inform (informative), to entertain (entertaining)). Explain your thinking. “This is a ______ text because …..” 2. Find in the text 6 examples of noun
groups or adjectives that describe the river. (For example “fast-moving river”)
3. Listen to the reading again and stop on Page 12. On this page the author describes how the river moves down the mountain. When reading do you think the river moves “soft and gentle” or “fast and harsh”. Explain your thinking.
Begin with “I think the river ….”
Analysing the River Map
Take a look at the river map in your packet (Pages 28-29) Analyse the map and use your finger to trace through the direction of the river in this story. Questions you must answer: 1) In your own words, identify and explain some key features of rivers that you have learnt whilst analysing this map? 2) When water is travelling from the source it is travelling fast, whereas when water is travelling through the meanders it travels much slower. Explain your reason for why this occurs?
Read: How Rivers are Formed Questions to answer.
1. What have you learned about a river?
2. Use your dictionary or google to source the meanings of the highlighted words. source – elevation – tributaries – mouth – ecosystems – organisms – irrigation
3. Where does saltwater and freshwater mix?
4. Draw pictures in the empty boxes to illustrate the article
RIVER JOURNEY I was born high in the hills, jumping over stones, chuckling and laughing. I listened to winds playing in the heather. I grew into a bubbling burn, wandered through fields, yellow with buttercups. I made music, singing songs in the sunshine. I became a shining stream, wound my way among stones, silver with darting fish. I danced with long shadows in the evening I hurried over rocks, under bridges, grown up at last, my waters wide and deep, till I tumbled into the open arms of the sea.
Read the poem aloud and think about its meaning.
1. Who is talking in this poem?
2. How do you know?
Learning From Home – Stage 2: Term 3 Week 3 – 26/7/21
Writing The author describes the rivers journey from start to finish. Write a short paragraph to describe the river’s journey in your own words. (Think about where it starts, where it flows to, what it flows past and where it ends). Look back at last week's pack on how to write an effective paragraph. You may wish to draw a river to represent your thinking.
Writing Today’s writing task is to plan a story a river’s journey or about your trip along a river. You are to use your knowledge on rivers to create this story. You must do your planning on the planning sheet attached to this learning pack to guide you in your planning. You are to make sure that when you are planning to include a beginning, middle and an end as well as be creative and imaginative. Your story might be about an adventure, crossing a river or travelling a river OR about people who may live near a river. They may be helped by the river,or put in danger by it.
Writing Today you will write a story about a river’s journey or about your trip along a river. Please use your planning from Tuesday, taking care to use descriptive language to make it as interesting and exciting as you can. Think about:
• the characters and where they are • the complication or problem to be
solved • how the story will end.
Remember to:
• write in sentences • pay attention to the words you
choose and your spelling • include paragraphs and punctuation • check and edit your writing when
you have finished.
Writing Look back at the poem Write some words which explain the movements of the river. Use some of these words to write a poem of your own.
FRIDAY Read for enjoyment: You should read for 20 minutes. Think about;
• Share a summary of the book you read. • Did it remind you of another book you read? How?
Send a picture of the book you read on your portfolio on class dojo answering the questions above. Writing: This week we have examined rivers, one type of environment found in Australia. Think about your new learning about rivers. In your pack you will find a blank mind map on rivers. In the boxes, add your new learning about rivers. Colour in and post to your portfolio. Catch Up on any work you may not have completed.
Learning From Home – Stage 2: Term 3 Week 3 – 26/7/21
MATHEMATICS – Please show all your working out. On FRIDAY choose one game to play again! MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Addition and Subtraction word problems 1) There are 162 reading books in one classroom and 342 reading books in the other. How many reading books are there all together? Please show ALL working out.
2) Mark has a collection of 348 Pokémon cards. His sister took 216 away from him.
How many cards are there remaining? Please show ALL working out.
3) Jacinta has 123 biscuits. She needs 200 cookies for the school bake sale. How many cookies does Jacinta need to make to have enough for the bake sale? Please show ALL
working out.
4) Joseph is having a birthday party. His grandpa gave him 95 balloons. His little
brother came along and popped 32 of those balloons. How many balloons does Joseph have now? Please show ALL working out.
5) There are 4.5 litres of milk in a pot. The chef stirs 2.5 grams of salt and 1.2 litres of water. How much liquid is in the pot now?
Please show ALL working out.
Two handfuls Watch the following video: https://sites.google.com/education.nsw.gov.au/get-mathematical-stage-2/contexts-for-practise/two-handfuls-part-2 You will need: • pencils/ markers • paper • pasta, counters, marbles or dried beans.
Instructions • Take 36 objects. • Form them into a rectangular structure
so that you have equal rows and columns. We call this an array. Draw and describe your array using words and symbols.
• Re-organise your pasta pieces so it forms a different rectangle. Draw and describe your array using words and symbols.
• Keep re-organising your pasta pieces until there are no more arrays you can make. Draw and record all of your arrays.
• Pick your favourite array and describe it using both multiplication and division. Record your thinking in your notebook.
Post the pictures of your arrays and share your thinking on our digital platform. .
The counting game- multiples Watch the video to learn how to play https://sites.google.com/education.nsw.gov.au/get-mathematical-stage-2/contexts-for-practise/the-counting-game-multiples You will need:
• pencils or markers • paper
Instructions • Select a target number, for example, 85. • Then select a unit value, for example,
fives. • The goal is to be the player who says the
target number. • Players can count on by saying the next
1, 2 or 3 number words in the fives sequence.
• Players collect a counter (or a tally mark) if they say the target number. A new target number is chosen, and players play again.
Reflection • Is there a way to play so that you never
lose? • I wonder if Michelle could have changed
her moves in any way to win. Could you give Michelle some advice? If she had said different number words, how could she have won?
101 and you’re out! Watch the following video: https://sites.google.com/education.nsw.gov.au/get-mathematical-stage-2/contexts-for-practise/101-and-yourre-out You will need: • dice or numeral cards 1-6 • pencils or markers • paper. Instructions • Make a game board by drawing a 6 x 4
table. • Label the first column as ‘tens’, the
second column as ‘ones’, the third column as number and forth column as total.
• Each time you roll the dice, you must decide whether the number is representing ‘ones’ or ‘tens’. For example, if I roll a 3, I could use it as 3 ones (3) or 3 tens (which we rename as 30). If you choose to use your 3 as 3 ones, record the number in the ones column. If you choose to use your 3 as 3 tens (30), record your number in the left column.
• Continue to play for 6 rolls. • Once you write a number, you can’t
change it. • The winner is the player with the sum
that is closest to 100 without going over! • Draw up 4 new game boards. Using the
same numbers you rolled, use the game boards to get closer to 100 than you did in your first game.
Learning From Home – Stage 2: Term 3 Week 3 – 26/7/21
Mind, Body and Soul Activities Field Work Excursion
Environment Field work Visiting The Duck River on the border of Auburn and South Granville Walk with your family down to the Duck
River and look at the plants and animals. See what you can find in the area. (Don’t
approach or touch any of them or pick the plants). The Wetlands also provide a home to three Endangered Ecological Communities and several threatened species, and are highly valued by the local community. Activities to choose from
• List the animals that you see. • Draw a map of your area of the
river • Read the poem about the Ducks
of the river and post on Dojo. • Complete the I See, I Think, I
Wonder page
Science What is soil? (Read in attached resource)
Making Compost Watch the YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5s4n9r-JGU Follow the instructions in the video to make compost to keep your garden healthy. Answer the questions:
1. Why is soil important? 2. What are the essential
ingredients of compost?
History
Duck River, looking towards the Mona Street bridge, South Granville in 1976. DUCK CREEK Read the article about Duck Creek in your Pack Watch these two links.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pw9cpdYTnw http://findingbennelong.com/strangers Take some notes. • Who are the first people of the Duck
Creek area? • Who was Arthur Phillip? • Write a paragraph about what you
have learned from your reading and the links.
Visual Arts Following your Duck Creek trip here are some drawing ideas for you so enjoy and have fun. Post your drawings on Dojo
Draw a colourful image of the undergrowth in Duck Creek
Leaf Rubbings or drawing
Draw one of the birds or insects you saw
Learning From Home – Stage 2: Term 3 Week 3 – 26/7/21
Mindfulness Mindful Colouring
Take some quiet time to reflect and colour the picture of the platypus in the river. Think about the colours
that belong in the river and use different shades of those colours to accurately represent the movement
and animals in the rivers that you have been learning about this week.
Geography Environment Physical Features The Australian continent is low, flat and dry compared with other continents of the world. It can be divided into four major landform regions: the Coastal Plains, the Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands and the Western Plateau. These landform regions have been created by movements in the Earth's crust, river erosion and changes in climate and sea level.
• What movements change the land formations.
Eastern Highlands Some of the mountains are volcanic. The Eastern Highlands are also home to gorges (valleys with cliff walls). These gorges were carved into soft areas of rock by streams and rivers. Rivers of Australia Research
• Watch the video. • use bullet points to write the
important features that you have discovered.
• Write the names of rivers you can find on the map.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kgQNRQjIUU
PDHPE Catching Follow the link below to watch the episode and join in the catching fun with Adam and Elissa. GetActive@Home – Episode
Look at the Catching card and complete the activity:
Technology Read the new issue of T4L Kids https://issuu.com/technology4learning/docs/t4lkids_issue5
Choose an activity (either digital or off line) to complete. Share your work on Class Dojo
Inst
ruct
ion
s –
Rea
d t
he
follo
win
g ar
ticl
e ab
ou
t h
ow
riv
ers
are
form
ed.
Dra
w a
pic
ture
to
illu
stra
te w
hat
eac
h p
arag
rap
h is
tea
chin
g yo
u a
bo
ut
rive
r fo
rmat
ion
.
Ho
w R
iver
s A
re F
orm
ed
Riv
ers
star
t at
a h
igh
po
int,
su
ch a
s a
mo
un
tain
, an
d f
low
do
wn
war
d. T
his
is it
s
sou
rce.
Bec
ause
riv
ers
flo
w f
rom
hig
h t
o
low
, th
ey c
an f
low
bo
th n
ort
h-t
o-s
ou
th a
s
wel
l as
sou
th-t
o-n
ort
h. R
iver
s ca
n a
lso
sp
rin
g
up
wh
en a
lake
ove
rflo
ws,
an
d t
he
wat
er
mo
ves
do
wn
to
a lo
wer
ele
vati
on
.
As
a ri
ver
flo
ws,
sm
alle
r b
od
ies
of
wat
er, c
alle
d
trib
uta
rie
s, a
dd
to
th
e vo
lum
e an
d s
pee
d o
f th
e
wat
er. B
ecau
se o
f th
is, a
riv
er is
th
e sm
alle
st a
t it
s
ori
gin
po
int
and
has
th
e m
ost
vo
lum
e b
y th
e ti
me
it
reac
hes
its
end
wh
ich
is c
alle
d t
he
mo
uth
, an
d is
oft
en f
ou
nd
nea
r la
rger
bo
die
s o
f w
ater
, su
ch a
s an
oce
an o
r se
a.
Tho
se "
in b
etw
een
" p
oin
ts w
her
e
salt
wat
er a
nd
fre
shw
ater
mix
pro
vid
e
spec
ial a
nd
sp
ecif
ic e
cosy
ste
ms
for
org
anis
ms
that
can
th
rive
in b
oth
typ
es
of
wat
er.
Riv
ers
are
an im
po
rtan
t p
art
of
the
wat
er
cycl
e an
d c
arry
wat
er a
nd
nu
trie
nts
,
pro
vid
ing
foo
d a
nd
dri
nk
for
anim
als.
Th
ey
also
car
ry f
resh
wat
er f
or
hu
man
s an
d
pro
vid
e ir
riga
tio
n f
or
farm
ers.
Riv
ers
are
an
imp
ort
ant
ener
gy s
ou
rce
Fig
ure
1 -
Ho
w R
iver
s a
re F
orm
ed
This
Ph
oto
by
Un
kno
wn
Au
tho
r is
lice
nse
d u
nd
er
Fig
ure
4 -
Riv
ers
carr
y fr
esh
wa
ter
for
hu
ma
ns
an
d p
rovi
de
irri
ga
tio
n f
or
farm
ers.
Fig
ure
2 -
Tri
bu
tari
es f
low
ing
into
a r
iver
Fig
ure
3-
Fres
h w
ate
r a
nd
sa
lt w
ate
r m
ix t
o s
up
po
rt d
iver
se
org
an
ism
s.
Rive
r Jou
rney
I
was
bor
n hi
gh in
the
hills
,
jum
ping
ove
r sto
nes,
ch
uckl
ing
and
laug
hing
.
I li
sten
ed to
win
ds p
layi
ng
in th
e he
athe
r.
I gre
w in
to a
bub
blin
g bu
rn,
w
ande
red
thro
ugh
field
s,
y
ello
w w
ith b
utte
rcup
s.
I mad
e m
usic
, sin
ging
song
s
in
the
suns
hine
.
I be
cam
e a
shin
ing
stre
am,
w
ound
my
way
am
ong
ston
es,
s
ilver
with
dar
ting
fish.
I d
ance
d w
ith lo
ng sh
adow
in
the
even
ing
I h
urrie
d ov
er ro
cks,
und
er
b
ridge
s, g
row
n up
at l
ast,
m
y w
ater
s wid
e an
d de
ep, t
ill
I
tum
bled
into
the
open
arm
s
of t
he se
a.
Mar
ie A
ndre
ws
QU
ESTI
ON
S R
ead
the
poem
alo
ud a
nd th
ink
abou
t its
m
eani
ng.
1.
Who
is ta
lkin
g in
this
poem
? 2.
Ho
w d
o yo
u kn
ow?
3.
Writ
e so
me
wor
ds w
hich
exp
lain
the
mov
emen
ts o
f the
riv
er.
W
ritin
g
Use
som
e of
thes
e w
ords
to w
rite
a po
em o
f you
r ow
n.
MO
ND
AY
Ad
dit
ion
an
d S
ub
trac
tio
n w
ord
pro
ble
ms
1
) Th
ere
are
16
2 re
adin
g b
oo
ks in
on
e cl
assr
oo
m a
nd
34
2 re
adin
g b
oo
ks in
th
e o
ther
. Ho
w m
any
read
ing
bo
oks
are
th
ere
all t
oge
ther
? P
leas
e sh
ow
ALL
wo
rkin
g o
ut.
2)
) M
ark
has
a c
olle
ctio
n o
f 3
48
Po
kém
on
car
ds.
His
sis
ter
too
k 2
16
away
fro
m h
im. H
ow
man
y ca
rds
are
ther
e re
mai
nin
g? P
leas
e sh
ow
ALL
wo
rkin
g o
ut.
3)
Jaci
nta
has
12
3 b
iscu
its.
Sh
e n
eed
s 2
00
co
oki
es f
or
the
sch
oo
l bak
e sa
le. H
ow
man
y co
oki
es d
oes
Ja
cin
ta n
eed
to
mak
e to
hav
e en
ou
gh f
or
the
bak
e sa
le?
Ple
ase
sho
w A
LL w
ork
ing
ou
t.
4
) Jo
sep
h is
hav
ing
a b
irth
day
par
ty. H
is g
ran
dp
a ga
ve h
im 9
5 b
allo
on
s. H
is li
ttle
bro
ther
cam
e al
on
g an
d p
op
ped
32
of
tho
se b
allo
on
s. H
ow
man
y b
allo
on
s d
oes
Jo
sep
h h
ave
no
w?
Ple
ase
sho
w A
LL
wo
rkin
g o
ut.
5
) Th
ere
are
4.5
litre
s o
f m
ilk in
a p
ot.
Th
e ch
ef s
tirs
2.5
gra
ms
of
salt
an
d 1
.2 li
tres
of
wat
er. H
ow
m
uch
liq
uid
is in
th
e p
ot
no
w?
Ple
ase
sho
w A
LL w
ork
ing
ou
t.
TUES
DA
Y
Two
han
dfu
ls
Wat
ch t
he
follo
win
g vi
deo
: h
ttp
s://
site
s.go
ogl
e.co
m/e
du
cati
on
.nsw
.go
v.au
/get
-mat
hem
atic
al-s
tage
-2/c
on
text
s-fo
r-p
ract
ise/
two
-h
and
fuls
-par
t-2
You
will
ne
ed:
•
pen
cils
/ m
arke
rs
•
pap
er
•
pas
ta, c
ou
nte
rs, m
arb
les
or
dri
ed b
ean
s.
Inst
ruct
ion
s
•
Take
36
ob
ject
s.
•
Form
th
em in
to a
rec
tan
gula
r st
ruct
ure
so
th
at y
ou
hav
e eq
ual
ro
ws
and
co
lum
ns.
We
call
this
an
ar
ray.
Dra
w a
nd
des
crib
e yo
ur
arra
y u
sin
g w
ord
s an
d s
ymb
ols
.
•
Re-
org
anis
e yo
ur
pas
ta p
iece
s so
it f
orm
s a
dif
fere
nt
rect
angl
e. D
raw
an
d d
escr
ibe
you
r ar
ray
usi
ng
wo
rds
and
sym
bo
ls.
•
Keep
re-
org
anis
ing
you
r p
asta
pie
ces
un
til t
her
e ar
e n
o m
ore
arr
ays
you
can
mak
e. D
raw
an
d
reco
rd a
ll o
f yo
ur
arra
ys.
•
Pic
k yo
ur
favo
uri
te a
rray
an
d d
escr
ibe
it u
sin
g b
oth
mu
ltip
licat
ion
an
d d
ivis
ion
. Rec
ord
yo
ur
thin
kin
g in
yo
ur
no
teb
oo
k.
•
Po
st t
he
pic
ture
s o
f yo
ur
arra
ys a
nd
sh
are
you
r th
inki
ng
on
ou
r d
igit
al p
latf
orm
.
.
WED
NESD
AY
The co
un
ting gam
e- m
ultip
les W
atch th
e video
to learn
ho
w to
play
http
s://sites.goo
gle.com
/edu
cation
.nsw
.gov.au
/get-math
ematical-
stage-2
/con
texts-for-p
ractise/the
-cou
ntin
g-game-m
ultip
les Yo
u w
ill need
:
• p
en
cils or m
arkers
• p
aper
Instru
ction
s
• Select a target n
um
ber, fo
r examp
le, 85.
• Th
en select a u
nit valu
e, for exam
ple, fives.
• Th
e goal is to
be th
e player w
ho
says the target n
um
ber.
• P
layers can co
un
t on
by sayin
g the n
ext 1, 2
or 3
nu
mb
er wo
rds
in th
e fives sequ
ence.
• P
layers collect a co
un
ter (or a tally m
ark) if they say th
e target n
um
ber. A
ne
w target n
um
be
r is cho
sen, an
d p
layers play
again.
• Fo
r examp
le: R
eflection
• Is th
ere a way to
play so
that yo
u n
ever lose?
• I w
on
der if M
iche
lle cou
ld h
ave chan
ged h
er mo
ves in an
y way
to w
in. C
ou
ld yo
u give M
ichelle so
me ad
vice? If she h
ad said
d
ifferent n
um
ber w
ord
s, ho
w co
uld
she h
ave wo
n?
THU
RSD
AY
10
1 an
d yo
u’re o
ut!
Watch
the fo
llow
ing vid
eo
: h
ttps://sites.go
ogle.co
m/ed
ucatio
n.n
sw.go
v.au/get-m
athem
atical-stage-2
/con
texts-for-p
ractise/10
1-an
d-yo
urre
-o
ut
You
will n
eed:
• d
ice or n
um
eral cards 1
-6
• p
en
cils or m
arkers
• p
aper.
Instru
ction
s
• M
ake a game b
oard
by d
rawin
g a 6 x 4
table.
• Lab
el the first co
lum
n as ‘ten
s’, the seco
nd
colu
mn
as ‘on
es’, the th
ird co
lum
n as n
um
ber an
d fo
rth co
lum
n
as total.
• Each
time yo
u ro
ll the d
ice, you
mu
st decid
e wh
ether th
e n
um
ber is rep
resentin
g ‘on
es’ or ‘ten
s’. For
examp
le, if I roll a 3
, I cou
ld u
se it as 3 o
nes (3
) or 3
tens (w
hich
we ren
ame as 3
0). If yo
u ch
oo
se to u
se you
r 3
as 3 o
nes, reco
rd th
e nu
mb
er in th
e on
es colu
mn
. If you
cho
ose to
use yo
ur 3
as 3 ten
s (30
), record
you
r n
um
ber in
the left co
lum
n.
• C
on
tinu
e to p
lay for 6
rolls.
• O
nce yo
u w
rite a nu
mb
er, you
can’t ch
ange it.
• Th
e win
ner is th
e player w
ith th
e sum
that is clo
sest to 1
00
with
ou
t goin
g ove
r!
• D
raw u
p 4
new
game b
oard
s. Usin
g the sam
e nu
mb
ers you
rolled
, use th
e game b
oard
s to get clo
ser to 1
00
than
you
did
in yo
ur first gam
e.
• P
lay again w
ith so
me
on
e else.
Target nu
mb
er 85
Player A
: 5, 10
,
Player B
: 15
, 20, 2
5...
Player A
: 30
, 35
, 40
...
Player B
: 45
...
Player A
: 50
, 55
Player B
: 60
Player A
: 65
,
Player B
: 70
, 80, 8
5!
• P
layer B co
llects a cou
nter
(or tally m
ark!)
Duck R
iver,
lookin
g tow
ard
s the M
ona
Str
eet bri
dge
, S
outh
Gra
nvill
e in 1
976.
DU
CK
C
RE
EK
The D
uck R
iver
flow
s in a
genera
lly n
ort
h then e
ast-
nort
h-e
ast
direction for
about 11.5
kilo
metr
es f
rom
where
it rises f
rom
a
dra
in in the s
uburb
of
Birro
ng
to w
here
it
join
s t
he P
arr
am
atta
Riv
er
at
Silv
erw
ate
r. In its
low
er
reaches it
is a
tid
al cre
ek.
For
thousands o
f years
the land a
round P
arr
am
atta w
as h
om
e,
hunting g
round a
nd m
eeting p
lace f
or
mem
bers
of th
e
Burr
am
attagal cla
n o
f th
e D
aru
g p
eople
.
The
sout
hern
rive
rban
k w
as a
vita
l sou
rce
of th
eir f
ood
and
livin
g re
sour
ces.
In th
eir s
easo
nal r
otat
ion
of c
amps
ites
arou
nd
thei
r ter
ritor
y, th
e cl
an w
ould
hav
e fo
und
that
the
abun
dant
fis
h, s
hellf
ish,
bird
s, re
ptile
s an
d m
arsu
pial
s co
ntrib
uted
gre
atly
to
thei
r dai
ly q
uest
for f
ood.
The
river
was
dis
cove
red
by G
over
nor P
hillip
soo
n af
ter
Euro
pean
s la
nded
in 1
788
On 2
2 A
pril 1788 G
overn
or
Art
hur
Phill
ip a
nd h
is p
art
y journ
eyed inla
nd b
y b
oat fr
om
Sydney
Cove t
o fin
d b
etter
farm
lands f
or
the n
ew
settle
ment. A
t th
e
head o
f th
e n
avig
able
riv
er
they landed o
n the s
hore
near
Cly
de
nam
ing it
Duck R
iver
du
e t
o t
he
ab
un
da
nce
of
du
cks in
the
are
a.
Th
ey le
ft t
he
ir b
oa
ts t
o e
xplo
re the a
rea b
ut could
not
penetr
ate
the thic
k b
ush.
Austr
alia
’s f
irst com
mis
sio
ned b
ridge w
as b
uilt
over
the D
uck
Riv
er
in 1
797
in a
n e
ffort
to o
pen u
p land tra
nsport
alo
ng
Parr
am
atta R
oad. O
ver
the n
ext
100 y
ears
the d
evelo
pm
ent
alo
ng this
riv
er
corr
idor
saw
much o
f th
e o
rigin
al fo
rest
cle
are
d
for
industr
y a
nd a
gricultura
l use.
Wh
at is
so
il?
Soil is
the m
inera
l and o
rganic
matte
r that c
overs
most o
f the
Earth
's s
urfa
ce.
Pla
nts
gro
w in
it. We liv
e o
n it. B
uild
ings s
tand u
pon
it. So
il is a
key p
art o
f our e
cosyste
m.
Soil is
like a
cake m
ade fro
m lo
ts o
f diffe
rent th
ings.
It consis
ts o
f cru
mblin
g ro
ck o
r san
d, c
lay, d
ead
pla
nt a
nd
an
imal re
main
s, fu
ngi a
nd e
ven
man
ure
(an
imal p
oo
). It als
o
conta
ins lo
ts o
f tiny c
reatu
res, s
uch a
s e
arth
wo
rms
.
Earth
wo
rms tu
rn th
e p
lant a
nd a
nim
al m
ate
rial in
to n
utrie
nts
.
They a
lso d
ig th
rough th
e s
oil, w
hic
h lig
hte
ns a
nd lo
osens it s
o
pla
nts
gro
w b
ette
r.
To b
e h
ealth
y
soil n
eeds
co
mp
os
t to
help
the p
lants
to g
row
.
NSW Department of Education
Catching challenges
5