Objective:
To provide access for teachers to a range of resources that support First Suite Rich Task #2: Multimedia Presentation of an Endangered Plant or Animal. Four major topics have been identified:
These links open in new browser windows.
Professional associations, community members or organisations able to provide expert information and advice on topics related to the Rich Task.
Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/ 
The agency provides detailed information on areas such as cultural heritage, recreation, plants and animals, national parks, protecting the environment and coasts and oceans. The Cyber Rangers Club allows students to explore habitats such as mangroves and learn about ecosystems. This site is a useful introduction to Queensland ecosystems. The Theatre link has ACE action suggestions for protecting our wildlife. These activities could be adapted to suit lower primary classes.
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/
WCMC is a British organisation involved in the location and management of information on the conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources. Under Species this site provides authoritative information for teachers about endangered species in most areas of the world. The Red List catalogues threatened species. Teachers could use the material to guide students in their selection of a plant or animal to investigate.
World Wildlife Fund Global network
http://www.panda.org/
This useful directory to Australian agencies and groups involved in the conservation, care and welfare of wildlife could be used by the teacher to compile a list of community contacts for guest speakers or visits.
Environment Australia: Threatened species & ecological communities
http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/
For the teacher Threatened species & ecological communities has a useful checklist of fauna and flora that have been assessed as threatened. These allow the teacher to check on the status of the animals and plants that have been selected by students for investigation. The checklist would also be useful for making the class retrieval charts.
Kids only: Manatees and dugongs
http://www.cep.unep.org/kids/kids.html
This site on threatened species includes links to material at middle-upper primary levels on dugongs found off the Australian coast. The section, Threats to manatees and dugongs, has information and reproducible pictures useful for student charts on constructive action.
Our animals
http://www.abc.net.au/schoolstv/animals/
Aimed at early childhood students, this site that accompanies the ABC-TV program has colouring-in pictures and simple fact sheets with good pictures of Australian animals. These provide useful information at the right level for students seeking to know more about the animals (land, air and sea) that they are researching for their presentation.
Zoos in Australia
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/Zoo/
This collection of articles examines the role zoos play in the conservation of species and would be useful for teachers planning excursions to local zoos and wildlife parks.
Brisbane Rainforest Action & Information Network
http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/
The focus of the group is active rainforest regeneration and rehabilitation at a number of sites around Brisbane so it provides information on how to solve the problem of declining native plant species. For teacher use there is Rainforest plants of the Brisbane area with its clear photographs and descriptions of habitats. Rare and endangered species also has photographs for plant identification. The site would be useful for introducing the topic of threatened plant species in the Brisbane area and for guiding the students in their selection of a plant to discuss.
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
http://www.cafnec.org.au
Issues concerning the conservation of plant and animal life and the threats posed to Queensland ecosystems are voiced on this site. For the teacher there is detailed information on the ecosystems of Cape York Peninsula, the Great Barrier Reef and the Cairns area and the effect of human activity on them. The information can be used by teachers introducing the need for constructive action as the newsletters of the group contain many proactive ideas.
Queensland Frog Society
http://www.qldfrogs.asn.au/
The 'Frog sheets' have useful articles for the teacher on the declining frog populations of Queensland and the way the species interacts with the local environment. The simple instructions on setting up a frog pond (under Frogs in your garden) could be useful for student report writing as an example of constructive action.
Queensland Museum: Endangered species
http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/
This is an excellent source of material for the classification of threatened species. Under Queensland's vanishing wildlife and Threats to wildlife is information on each threatened animal or plant, including habitat, causes of endangerment and possible solutions. The results of interaction between humans and threatened species is emphasised in the What can I do? section, which will be useful for students looking for ideas for constructive action. Teacher help will be required.
Inspirations software: Kidspiration
http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiration/
This is a very useful site describing a product that can be used to help students diagram ideas and use webs and concept maps. Kidspiration in particular helps students organise ideas visually. The graphic libraries are aimed at students from P-4 and are child-friendly. In addition Kidspiration provides an auditory component that will name symbols as they are chosen and read back sentences that the student has constructed. A free online demonstration is available. This would aid students in synthesising their ideas and reassembling information.
Comprising non-website resources available from a variety of sources.
The Environmental Protection Agency maintains a database (WildNet) on the geographical distribution of species. School may use a simple form (new window) 81k 
to access a copy of local data. On this form you can request all the species of birds, animals, reptiles, etc within a set radius (eg 5km, 25km or 50km) of your location. You will be sent back an Excel spreadsheet containing all the species recorded for your area and meeting the specifications you put on the form. Within that will be the species that are listed on state and federal legislation as threatened.
Paul Sutton has developed instructions for extracting threatened species lists (new window) 222k from the spreadsheet supplied by the EPA. As long as the spreadsheet opens by double clicking on it, the instructions should be easy enough to follow. They are designed to get you and your students to explore the available data so it becomes a multipurpose resource.
KEYT, Terry 1998, Australian endangered animals, South Yarra, Victoria: Macmillan Education Australia.
This book discusses endangered species, restoration programs and Australian habitats. There are nineteen profiles of specific endangered creatures, providing information under 'Description', 'Distribution', 'Habitat', 'Food', 'Reasons for endangerment' and 'Conservation'.
OLIVER, Narelle 2001, Baby Bilby where do you sleep? Port Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian.
The creatures of the desert come alive in the poetry of this exquisite book. Australia's desert animals doze in burrows, lurk in the spinifex and quiver in holes. It is very useful for picturing Australian animals and their habitats.
OLIVER, Narelle 1999, Sand swimmers: The secret life of Australia's dead heart, Port Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian.
Oliver has taken Sturt's concept of an inland sea as a sustained metaphor in describing the desert terrain and its numerous inhabitants. She shows how the desert animals cope with the intense heat, aridity and harsh vegetation and how changes have taken place over aeons of time. This could be used in discussions on habitats.
PARISH, Steve 1999, Australian rare and endangered wildlife, Archerfield, Queensland: Steve Parish.
Eighteen endangered species are featured here, ranging from quolls, bandicoots and bilbies to marine mammals, cassowaries and parrots. Causes of extinction and measures that children can take to help prevent it are discussed. Superlative high-resolution close-up colour photographs provide a high proportion of the information in these glossy books.
PYERS, Greg 2000, Endangered animals of Australia's coasts and oceans, Abbotsford, Victoria: Echidna.
This book looks at some endangered animals of the coast and oceans including the southern blue-fin tuna and the green turtle, as well as issues like overfishing and plastic pollution. The simply written series contains a wealth of carefully researched information. Each book includes a definition of extinct, endangered and vulnerable animals, as well as a description of ecosystems, including the changes and threats they face and the steps taken to redress the problems.
PYERS, Greg 2000, Endangered animals of Australia's deserts. Abbotsford, Victoria: Echidna.
This book looks at some endangered desert animals including the bilby and the mala, and discusses the role played by climate in breeding and life-cycle patterns. The simply written series contains a wealth of carefully researched information. Each book includes a definition of extinct, endangered and vulnerable animals, as well as a description of ecosystems, including the changes and threats they face and the steps taken to redress the problems.
PYERS, Greg 2000, Endangered animals of Australia's forests, Abbotsford, Victoria: Echidna.
This book looks at some endangered forest animals including the numbat and the regent honeyeater, and emphasises the importance of old growth forests as animal habitats. The simply written series contains a wealth of carefully researched information. Each book includes a definition of extinct, endangered and vulnerable animals, as well as a description of ecosystems, including the changes and threats they face and the steps taken to redress the problems.
PYERS, Greg 2000, Endangered animals of Australia's wetlands and grasslands, Abbotsford, Victoria: Echidna.
This book looks at some endangered animals of the wetlands and grasslands, including the Baw Baw frog and the Mary River cod, and discusses issues like introduced species. The simply written series contains a wealth of carefully researched information. Each book includes a definition of extinct, endangered and vulnerable animals, as well as a description of ecosystems, including the changes and threats they face and the steps taken to redress the problems.
Animals in our zoo. A1083656X
This video provides the experience of a zoo excursion. It uses a variety of animal species to illustrate differences in eating habits and diet, habitats, shapes and surfaces and social behaviour. Filmed at the Taronga Park and Western Plains Zoos it could be a useful introduction for lower grades to what animals need to live and why changes in their environment affect their survival.
Australia's threatened plants and animals. A10842438
Superbly photographed examination of some of Australia's more unusual endangered species such as the spotted tree frog, Richmond bird wing butterfly and ghost bat. It compares the Aboriginal sustainable lifestyle with that of early European settlers. Designed specifically for cross-curriculum requirements it includes on-screen fact sheets and examples of community based projects that have proved successful in habitat conservation. While it is aimed at middle to upper primary, segments could be used to promote the discussion of measures that could be taken to halt endangerment.
The search for Australia and Canada's most secret animals. A10814868
One of a series of programs featuring some of the world's rare, bizarre and endangered animals. It consists of two parts, each examining a range of animals peculiar to that country. The Australian fauna shown includes the wombat, cassowary, koala, goanna and saltwater crocodile. This is a useful introduction to threatened species.
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