Although freshwater turtles play an important role in freshwater ecosystems, most people know little about them. Facing various human threats, such as poaching and pollution, freshwater turtles are slowly disappearing from our local streams.

Increasing children's awareness of threatened species is an important step on species conservation. To help kids understand more about local freshwater turtles, OPCFHK has developed a nature education storybook tailored to children. Through reading the storybook, children can follow the steps of the Beale's eyed turtle named “Bennie”, to learn about the challenges faced by local freshwater turtles. By incorporating learning into entertainment, the storybook helps arouse children’s curiosity and exploratory spirit towards nature. At the end of the storybook, supplementary teaching resources and suggested activities are included to support the teaching of kindergarten and primary school teachers.

“The Adventures of Beale’s Eyed Turtle” is completely free for teachers, please click the link below for more information.

Download link: https://tinyurl.com/4n25mwz3

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material/event do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Environment and Conservation Fund and Environmental Campaign Committee

An outdoor field guide to freshwater habitats

Situated in subtropical area with stable rainfall and with diverse landscape, Hong Kong is blessed with a rich in freshwater habitats, including streams, reservoirs and marsh that is formed by abandoned farmlands, which provide foraging and breeding grounds for numerous freshwater living organisms.  In light of that, we have produced a field guide for Biology and Geography teachers as a supplementary teaching material. This guide serves as supplementary learning materials provided to teachers in core part of relevant subjects, such as “Organisms and Environment” in Biology, providing a way to not only make the field trips more interesting but also encourage students to think more and better absorb the knowledge they learn.

Outdoor educational activities not only enhance students’ understanding of local freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, but also make learning lively and engaging. There are five freshwater habitats with unique features in Hong Kong, ranging from upland rivers to lowland freshwater marshes. It provides information about site introduction, suggested study routes, ecology and geography knowledge of the sites and photo guide of freshwater species that are commonly found in those areas. There are also suggested activities and extended discussions, which not only make the field trips more interesting but also encourage students to think more and better absorb the knowledge they learn.

“An outdoor field guide to freshwater habitats” is free for teachers, please click the link below for more information.

Download link: https://forms.gle/naN2jdfGVTnzA2jRA