Project Overview

With the support of Woolworths Junior Landcare grant funding, students at East Kenwick Primary School in Western Australia have worked together to construct, install and monitor six nesting boxes for local threatened species within the school grounds.

The Red-tailed Black cockatoo population in the area has been in decline due to habitat destruction and the introduction of pests. 80 Students across years 4 and 5 have come together to provide safe place in the marri trees for birds that frequent the school grounds. The intention was to improve the breeding numbers in the area and strengthen local population numbers. The project also provided a range of learning experiences for all the students, including several different learning areas and outcomes of the school curriculum.

Educational Outcomes

The students learning outcomes and involvement in the project covered English, Science and Design Technologies curriculum areas. The data collection and monitoring was conducted through Wifi connected cameras and viewed on the school website, this activity supported learnings that link to Digital Technologies and Mathematics subjects.

The project has taught the students the importance of providing habitat for local fauna and practical hands-on learnings by engaging them in the monitoring and maintenance of the nesting boxes.

The school’s Principal, Ryan Pettit noted, “Through our nesting box program students discovered how to create nesting boxes using recycled materials to provide safe nesting environments for local bird species who require tree hollows in order to create a nest, to improve our local bird populations.”

Conclusion

This hands-on project has taught the students how to actively plan, construct and monitor an environmental project in their community. It has provided an opportunity for them to learn practical skills, foster a sense of responsibility and a connection to the local ecosystem by encouraging students to conserve biodiversity around them.