Maitland Heritage Education Resource

Maitland Heritage Education Resource EARLY SETTLERS OF WALLIS PLAINS WALKA WATER WORKS ECOLOGY

WALKA WATER WORKS

Walka Water Works Ecology resources are suitable for Stage 2 of the NSW curricula.

As well as being a popular picnic and recreation area in the Maitland district, the Water Works have outstanding landscape beauty. New resources present the sites ecological significance as a bird habitat and are available both onsite and online.

ONSITE RESOURCES INCLUDE: • Ecology viewing platform

• A seating area for up to 20 people to facilitate small group discussion • A series of marker posts for wildlife viewing areas • Onsite signage.

ONLINE RESOURCES INCLUDE: • Free iOS Walka Bird App

• School curriculum resource reference, Bloom’s Matrix and Risk Assessment • Walka Ecology Walk Explorers Guide • Teacher information sheets • Student information sheets • Photography from the Hunter Bird Observer’s Club Image Library.

For more information or to download the online resources visit maitland.nsw.gov.au/walka-education-programs New education resources are available for teachers to plan and undertake classroom and excursion activities for Walka Water Works and the Early Settlers of Wallis Plains as part of NSW curricula.

WALKA ECOLOGY WALK EXPLORERS GUIDE An A5 downloadable walking guide has been developed for young explorers. School groups visiting Walka are encouraged to divide into two groups with one walking along the Lake Trail and the other across the reservoir wall. Groups can meet at the ecology viewing platform and seating area for reporting, observations and discussion.

Walka Ecology Walk EXPLORERS GUIDE

WALKA BIRD APP

The Walka Bird App is a starter’s guide into birdlife at Walka.

It provides information relating to habitat, bird descriptions, behaviour, food and stunning photography.

ONLINE RESOURCES

A website including a range of visual, written and interactive digital resources is available to support students and teachers learning about Walka and to help plan a visit. Go to maitland.nsw.gov.au/walka-education-programs

ECOLOGY VIEWING PLATFORM The Ecology Viewing Platform is centrally located within the network of existing trails across the site. The platform is the perfect destination to meet as part of the Walka Ecology Walk.

SMALL GROUP SEATING Seating for small groups (up to 20 people) is located at the viewing platform. It is a suitable space to complete reporting, observations and discussions. The seating has both accessible and smaller seating available.

The seats have been manufactured from recycled plastic, sending a strong message about sustainability. By installing this furniture approximately 157,500 plastic packages have been diverted from landfill.

VIEWING AREA MARKERS

Visitors are encouraged to complete the Lake Trail by stopping at post markers which signify the best vantage points for observing wildlife. The marker posts include emblems of which animals may be visible from that point.

ONSITE SIGNAGE Two onsite signs include one located near the pumphouse complex and one at the ecology viewing platform.

EARLY SETTLERS OF WALLIS PLAINS The Early Settlers of Wallis Plains teaching unit has been produced by Maitland City Council to support local Hunter teachers implement the NSW History K-10 syllabus by providing a local context for classroom studies. Available online you will find Bloom’s Taxonomy, a curriculum unit, a Teachers Manual as well as The Convict Adventure at Wallis Plains digital book.

THE CONVICT ADVENTURE AT WALLIS PLAINS DIGITAL BOOK This digital book supports Stage 2 and 3 units. It invites students to explore the life and times of Maitland’s first European settlement and the twelve convicts chosen to live there. The book is filled with written content, photographs (old and new), audio and video media and interactive widgets for use in the classroom.

To access the resources and for more information visit maitland.nsw.gov.au/early-settlers-of-wallis-plains

Colonial dance ‘Speed the Plough’ video and instructions.

The book includes a glossary with red text highlighting phrases and definitions dictionary

Several interactive exercises are embedded in the book

For more information contact Clare James Clare.James@maitland.nsw.gov.au