Fauna and Habitat Card Game
We acknowledge Djaara and Taungurung as the traditional owners of the Mount Alexander region. Use of Dja Dja Wurrung language in this resource has been approved by Djali Balak (Djaara language repatriation committee) and the content has been informed in discussions with Djaara people. Permission for reprinting or use of language outside of these resources should be sought from Djali Balak.
The term ‘ecosystem’ refers to the way that all living and non-living elements in a system interact together. Animals (or fauna) rely on their environment for food and shelter and in turn, their relationship with the environment protects it.
This resource aims to showcase 12 significant local animals and their relationships with their food and homes (habitat) in the Mount Alexander region. It aims to raise awareness of some of the lesser known or less commonly seen wildlife and the importance of the various habitat elements they rely on for survival. It is intended to showcase the ecology of the region and how important the different landscape elements are for the whole ecosystem. Many of the fauna featured in the card game are ‘threatened species’, which means these species are rare or declining in number due to loss of their habitat and other threats.
The resource includes a copy of double-sided cards, printable at A3 which can be used as a card game e.g. memory or matching game – connecting the animal to its habitat. Note, there may be more than one answer but this can be highlighted as a teaching note, further exploring how the environment is interconnected.
Resource:
Extension Activities:
- Learn about the Eltham Copper Butterfly Life Cycle. See:
https://connectingcountry.org.au/education-resources/eltham-copper-butterfly-in-central-victoria/
- Research a species and learn more about it and its habitat.
- Use the Nature Map to talk about where you have/might see these species.
Associated Celebration/ Awareness Days and/or weeks:
- Threatened Species Day 7 September
- Pollinator Week Third week in November.
Photo credits:
Eltham Copper Butterfly taken by Elaine Bayes of Wetland Revival Trust
Cunningham Skink photo by Mez Woodward
Blue-banded bee and Dianella amoena photos by John Walter
Dam, Rocky outcrop photos taken by Anna Senior
Fallen log, spear grass, tree bark, large old tree photos taken by Bonnie Humphreys
Sweet Bursaria photo by Tanya Loos
Long-necked Turtle and Lace Monitor photo by Euan Moore
Swift Parrot photo by Chris Tzaros of Birds Bush and Beyond
All other photos were taken by Geoff Park.
Re-use of these photos is not permitted without the permission of the photographer.
