By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT all started with a simple mathematical equation.
Students at The Patch Primary School measured the dimensions of the school property as part of a project to explore the wetlands in and around the school.
But their inquisitive minds wouldn’t let it stop there.
They wondered who, what, why, when and where local wildlife called home in and around the school grounds.
Teacher Michelle Rayner said the students then wanted to document all the animals that called the school home, and researched when and where they were.
“We were lucky that Charlie’s dad Stephen stepped in as a guest speaker to the kids as he knows a lot about filming and photographing wildlife,” she said.
“He mentioned how local technology made it easier to monitor wildlife and see what happens.”
So the students got to work, using their literary skills to write to wildlife technology companies asking them to donate cameras and other toys that would help them monitor the area.
“It was great, we had a really good response and ended up with seven monitoring cameras and two pairs of binoculars valued at $2500,” she said.
“Now we are able to monitor who uses nesting boxes all across the school at all times of the day.”
