Sustainability

Recently in sustainability in 4/5/6B, we have been learning about the Barkindji Aboriginal tribe of New South Wales. We have been investigating the projects they are doing with the creeks and rivers such as, looking after the waterways by creating fish hotels in different places. A fish hotel in case you are wondering, is rocks and sticks put together to create a shelter for fish to stay in. Lastly, the environmental watering of Fletchers Creek and other surrounding dry riverbeds. We have been doing multiple tasks and activities relating to the topic.

Henry 

In sustainability we (the 456s) created sand dams. Sand dams are used in dryer parts of the world, for example Africa and deserts. Sand dams work by having a dry river that’s on a slope, people put dams that have bits of the dam cut out. This lets some water spill over the dam so people that live downstream can still grow vegetation. Then they wait and after three big rains or more, the sand builds up with lots of water and moisture in it. Then they let the water sink to the bottom and they insert pipes in the sand to get to the water at the bottom. 

Leo

 Diagram of a Sand dam sourced by Leo

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.651954/full

The 456s simulated sand dams by making models using plasticine to create a dry river bed and sand to represent the silt that flows down the rivers during big rains. They learnt about the importance of sand dams by making accessible, safe healthy water to people in drylands throughout the world. People can collect water closer to where they live, through wells and pumps in the sand dam, instead of walking hours and hours to find water each day.

                                                                                            Model of sand dam made by Leo, Aloysius                                                                                             and Logan