New website to help Wimmera teachers

Opportunities for teachers and schools to help Wimmera children understand environmental issues have expanded with development of a new educational internet website.

Organisers behind Tweet, a website designed to arm Wimmera primary and secondary educators with fresh ideas and resources, have launched the site, www.wimmeraedtoolkit.vic.gov.au.

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority has worked with several Wimmera natural-resource management organisations on the site to help teachers develop fresh and dynamic environmental study plans and programs. Authority community education officer Bronwyn Bant said the website was specifically designed for Wimmera teachers and school communities.

“This website has been a collaborative effort involving various agencies and draws on a vast list of resources. It’s a first for the Wimmera,” she said.

Ms Bant encouraged Wimmera educators to get access to website resources by becoming on-line members at a cost of $25. “It’s an easy cost-effective process. Being a member of tweet will arm teachers with new resources and ideas and open Wimmera children to a fresh, new world to environmental education,” she said.

Tweet members will be able to borrow expensive specialist classroom resources and a range of lesson plans and ideas that complement website products. They will also have access to a comprehensive list of organisations that regularly fund school environmental projects such as kitchen-gardens, water-saving, and tree-planting projects.

Ms Bant said the site would be updated regularly and provide members with insight and details about events relevant to the Wimmera. Ms Bant said people keen to know more about the benefits of becoming tweet members could call her at Wimmera CMA on 5382 1544.