Student Worksheet

Thought-starter: What percentage of your school is native habitat cover?

Step 1.

Looking at the types of habitat cover at your school. Begin by calculating the percentage cover for the 4 types of surfaces based on how the water cycle works at your school. For example, water filtering into the ground (tree cover), water being captured in water tanks (roof), infiltrating (soft surfaces/ grass) and flowing into drains and creeks (hard surface). Record this information on the table below. Make sure it all adds up to 100%!

Table 1. Calculating the percentage of cover types at your school

Now it's time to look at the habitat features of your school. Head outside to count and calculate these features, adding them to the table below.

Table 2. Calculating and identifying the number of habitat features at your school

How to measure tree height: Calculate the height of one of the main buildings at your school (if it's very high, pick a smaller building or ask your school office if they have plans of the school buildings). Visually measure trees against this building to give an approximate tree height e.g. if the building is 9 metres high and the tree is about two thirds the height of the building, then the tree is about 6 metres high.

*Productive gardens could include: veggie beds, herb gardens, bush tucker gardens, orchards, livestock.

**Habitat extras could include: composting area, Indigenous plant propagation, nest boxes, lizard lounges, frog bogs, wetlands, bird bath.

Understanding the soil at your school

Take a walk around your school and look at the soil. Consider the following questions:

1. Erosion is wearing away and movement of soil by things like rain and wind. Is your school ground free from erosion? Yes or no

2. Compaction is when the soil is packed together, making it hard for plants to grow. Is your school ground free from soil compaction? Yes or no

3. Are the garden beds in the school ground mulched (look for things like tanbark or straw)? Yes or no

4. Is your school doing anything to help protect soil (such as fencing off areas, putting in paths or putting in plants)? Yes or no

Step 2. Calculating the habitat score for your school

To calculate the habitat score for you school your will need the size of your school in hectares (1 hectare = 10,000m²).

Ask your teacher for this figure and write it here:

For each habitat feature you will need to calculate the number of the features per hectare

Result/Number of hectares = ____ per/ha

In each table, place an asterisk (*) next to the number that correlates most closely to the number of habitat features you recorded. Don't write the actual number of habitat features you recorded in the table - you are aiming for a total score out of 100.

Large native trees (trees over 6 metres)

Small native trees (trees less than 6 metres)

Native shrubs/understorey

Weeds

Organic litter/mulch

Rocks and logs

Productive gardens

Habitat extras

Soil Management

Add up all your scores to reveal your HABITAT HECTARE SCORE (out of 100):

* Native and Indigenous species are awarded more points then introduced species.

Weeds

What actions are being taken at your school to minimise the spread of weeds? List these actions below:

Connecting with the outside world

How does the vegetation and the habitats at your school link with surrounding areas?

Use Google Maps to see where your local bushland, parks and drainage reserves are located in relation to your school and to help identify whether your school gardens are part of an important corridor or a stepping stone between two larger areas.

Finished your audit? Let's get creative!

See | Think | Wonder

Take a look at this picture of a school in 2050.

Planing your own biodiversity project

Think outside the box

Think of the biggest craziest school biodiversity project that you can imagine! Describe it below or draw a picture of it.

Think inside the box

Now scale it down a little bit and think of a biodiversity project that you could implement this year with limited budget. Describe it below.

Planning your project

Answer the “What, Who, Where, When, Why” of your project.

AuSSI Biodiversity Audit (Upper Primary)

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