Episode 17 Teacher Resource 20th June 2017

Protecting Desert Animals

1. What was the main point of the BTN story? Students will learn about solutions that scientists are finding to help 2. Where is the Simpson Desert? Locate using Google Maps. protect Australian desert animals. 3. Why are more Australian desert animal species becoming Students will investigate how endangered? desert animals adapt to the natural environment. 4. Give an example of a feral animal that can be found in Australian deserts. 5. In which year were feral animals first introduced to Australia? 6. Why were animals like cats and foxes brought to Australia?

7. How many Australian species have become extinct because of feral Science – Year 4 cats? Living things, including plants and animals, depend on each other a. 2 species and the environment to survive b. 20 species (ACSSU073) c. 200 species Living things have life cycles. 8. The desert bandicoot is extinct. True or false? (ACSSU072) 9. What are scientists doing in the Simpson Desert to help protect native species? Science – Year 5 Living things have structural 10. How has your thinking changed since watching the BTN story? features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (ACSSU043)

Science – Year 6 The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical Watch the BTN Protecting Desert Animals story and discuss as a class. What conditions of their environment questions were raised in the discussion (what are the gaps in their (ACSSU094) knowledge)? The following questions may help guide the discussion: Science – Year 7 Interactions between organisms, • What is a desert? List some of the main characteristics. including the effects of human activities can be represented by • Where are Australia’s deserts located? Locate using a map. food chains and food webs • Think of adjectives to describe the desert environment. (ACSSU112)

The following KWLH organiser provides students with a framework to explore their knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn.

What do I What do I want What have I How will I know? to know? learnt? find out?

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Desert biome investigation Students will examine the key features of an Australian desert biome – its climate, types of plants and animals, landforms and soil. Use the table below to help organise your information. Before starting this activity learn about biomes and what characterises a desert biome.

Australian desert Research

Where in Australia can desert biomes be found? Describe its location and highlight the area on a map. How much of Australia is desert (find a percentage)?

Describe the climate of Australia’s deserts. How much rainfall does a desert biome normally receive each year?

Describe the landforms of a desert biome. Use words like weathering, erosion, rocks, sandy, plains, oasis.

What animals would you find in an Australian desert biome? • List and describe some of the native animals that live in the desert. • How have these species adapted to the natural environment? • Include photographs and/or illustrations • How have introduced species affected the desert ecosystem?

What plants would you find in an Australian desert biome? • List and describe some of the species found in the desert. • How have these species adapted to the natural environment? • Include photographs and/or illustrations.

What do you think makes the Australian desert special?

Use the information you have found to create a detailed drawing of a desert biome (the diagram needs to include weather, landforms, plants and animals and rocks and soils). Think about how it would look when viewed from above. Alternatively create a diorama of the landscape.

Compare Australia’s desert biome to another desert biome in the world.

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Who am I? Students will make their own Who Am I? game to learn more about native Australian desert animals. • Students will research and write 6 clues to correspond with each animal in the Who Am I? template, with the first clue being the hardest and the last clue being the easiest. • Include clues about the animal’s special features, its predators and how it adapts to its environment. • Students will test their game on a partner.

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Desert knowledge for kids How well do you know your Australian desert animals? As a class look at this interactive illustration of a desert park found in Alice Springs NT. Hover over and then click on each of the animals to find out what animals live in this environment. http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/plants/

Follow on activity – animal profile Choose one animal that calls the Australian desert their home. Investigate how they survive the harsh conditions of a desert environment. For example, to deal with the extreme heat kangaroos pant to cool down. They also lick their chests and the inside of their forearms until those areas are quite wet. When the moisture evaporates it cools the blood, which circulates close to the surface at these points. This helps keep the animal cool.

Desert tracking As a class watch ABC Splash video - The dynamic Tanami Desert

• Describe how local Aboriginal people and scientists are tracking wild animals in the Tanami Desert. • How does the common cat survive in the Tanami Desert, one of Australia’s most hostile deserts? • According to the narrator in this story, the Mala is most at risk with fewer than 400 remaining on mainland Australia. Research the current conservation status of the Mala. Explain how people have been involved in the protection of the Mala.

Design In the BTN Protecting Desert Animals story, we learn that scientists are designing predator-proof homes for the desert’s smaller creatures to hide in. The chicken wire tunnels are 50 metres long, and allow small animals to run in and out as they please. The tunnels protect native desert animals who are under stress from feral animals.

• What surprised you about the design? • Can you improve on the design? If so, what improvements would you make? • What alternative techniques can you think of? Design your own shelter to help native desert animals hide from predators. Share your design with the class. Describe the materials used to make it, its features and how it will help protect native species.

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ABC News – Endangered desert animals take refuge in man-made homes in outback science project http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-11/endangered-desert-animals-take-refuge-in-manmade- homes/8605320

Alice Springs Desert Park – Animal interactive http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/plants/

Alice Springs Desert Park – Australian Desert Facts http://www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/kids/desert/

ABC Splash – The dynamic Tanami Desert http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/1436054/the-dynamic-tanami-desert

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