Session 1 - Introduction to the Murray-Darling Basin
This session provides some background information about the Murray-Darling River system and its importance to agriculture and the community. An aboriginal artist from Burrumbuttock near the Murray River in Southern NSW discusses the story of the Rainbow Serpent and how the Murray River was formed according to Aboriginal mythology.
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Discussion Questions (Download page in print friendly Word format)
- What problems are there with the river system? What has caused the problems?
- Why is the health of the river system so important? What is the water used for?
Recall Questions
- Where is the upper catchment of the Murray River?
- How much of the country does the Murray Darling Basin cover?
- Which states and territories does the Murray Darling water system flow through?
- What is the water used for?
- How much of Australia’s irrigated agriculture does it supply?
- How much of Australia’s general agriculture does it supply?
- How many people does it provide water for?
- What is the Rainbow Serpent? What is the story about?
- What is a billabong? Which animals live in and around billabongs?
Suggested Activities
See links section below for resources related to the suggested activities
- Make a word puzzle using words associated with the Murray River. Try to include new or unfamiliar words in your puzzle.
- Think about your own water use at home. Keep a journal of what you and your family do to conserve water around the home. What else could you do to conserve water?
- Make a list of things your school is doing to save water.
- Design a brochure teaching people how to use less water.
- Map the River Murray.
- Visit your local fruit and vegetable shop and find out which products come from the Murray Darling Basin. Where else in Australia and overseas do they get their fruit and vegetables from?
- Use the Internet to research how much water is needed to produce some of Australia’s irrigated food crops. Record your findings in graph form.
- Come up with a range of possible questions about the Murray River.
- Make up a fact file on the Murray River.
- Research a fauna species in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Resource Links
Build your own word puzzles
www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com
Water-wise tips from Melbourne Water
conservewater.melbournewater.com.au/content/tips.asp
Water-wise tips from Sydney Water
www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/InYourHome/
Water-wise tips from Adelaide Water
www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/Environment/SaveWater/In+the+Home.htm
River Murray facts
rivermurray.com/html/about_the_murray/about_the_murray.html
Amount of water needed to produce food
rivermurray.com/html/about_the_murray/murray_darling_basin.html
The Magic of Water - A Student Study Guide from the Riverina Environmental Education Centre
www.reec.nsw.edu.au/k6/page/wa0.htm
Murray-Darling Basin native fauna species
savethemurray.com/environment_native_fauna.php