Teaching resources
Welcome to the teaching resources page. We have provided some interesting and clear worksheets for your students. Please read the background information, it tells the story of how Tasmanian scientists are helping to address climate change and are contributing to science on a global scale. We're interested in developing more teaching material so please send us any requests and ideas and we'll see what we can come up with!
Please let us know who you are and which school you are from by dropping the Redmap team a quick email at enquiries@redmap.org.au
A little bit of science
Understanding scientific method: When undertaking scientific research, there is always some paperwork to begin with. Researching and finding out as much background information as possible is a great place to begin and may help you find an area you want to know more about. This will help you to ask the right questions. Learn more >>
Worksheets:
Ocean temperatures
Use the Redmap worksheets to compare ocean temperatures collected by your class with actual temperatures taken by TAFI scientists in four locations around Tasmania
Background Reading: Read how real Tasmanian scientists are collecting temperature data
Worksheet ocean temperatures in Tasmania (Southern region)
Worksheet ocean temperatures in Tasmania (Northern region)
Worksheet ocean temperatures in Tasmania (Western region)
Worksheet ocean temperatures in Tasmania (North-Eastern region)
Acidification
Scientists have found that when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide a by product of the reaction is a weak acid. Find out what acids do to the calcium in sea shells in this interesting experiment based on the actual work of Tasmanian scientists Will Howard and Donna Roberts.
Background Reading: Find out how acidification is affecting our oceans.
Upwelling and downwelling in the sea
Using coloured ice see how currents can be created easily in the classroom.
Background reading: Read how upwelling will be affected by climate change.
A little bit of science
Observation is vital for good science - refine your observation skills with our worksheet.
Background reading: How does a scientist find out what species are common to Tasmanian waters?
Worksheet Sea shells - scientific observations
Links:
Check out this great webpage for answers to some very interesting marine questions like “what is the biggest fish in the ocean?”, “What does peanut butter have to do with the ocean?” and many more! http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/welcome.html
On the Save Our Marine Life site is a fun game. Use your arrow keys to steer Sandy seal through the maze of hazards to see just how hard life can be in unprotected waters http://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/sandy/
Marine Links is a marine and fisheries education resource kit for use by teachers in Tasmanian primary and secondary schools. The kit has been developed to align with school curriculums and contains practical marine teaching aids and information. Kits are available for loan from DPIPWE’s Fishcare Tasmania Regional Coordinators and the Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre.
Cradle Coast NRM have produced a series of 'Coastal Discovery' activity booklets and teaching guides now available for schools.
Acknowledgements:
While developing the educational material the REDMAP team was heavily supported and advised by a number of Tasmanian educators. They shared such a passion for what they do with such a strong sense of what is important. REDMAP thank them for their support and ongoing commitment to Redmap and Tasmanian kids. A special thanks to Jessie Rowland, 13 years old from Friends School, for her fantastic drawings on this page!
