Creek Neighbours online program

Welcome to the Brisbane City Council Creek Neighbours online program - a free, educational program designed to connect kindergarten students, their families and the community to their local creek catchment. 

Use this page to facilitate the program in your kindergarten and teach children about creek and waterway health in Brisbane. The four sessions link to the Early Years Learning Framework (belonging, being and becoming) and include written instructions, videos, links, and documents to help you teach the online program in your classroom.

Register to participate

If your kindergarten would like to participate in the program, register to get access to all accompanying materials and staff support/assistance. Materials include a dip netting kit, creek game kit and a Gracie frog toy.

Register now

Program

By checking this box, I agree that I have read, understood, acknowledge and agree to the terms & conditions for the program, including mandatory risk assessments and exclusion of liability. I have also registered my kindergarten early learning centre to participate in the Creek Neighbours online progam.

Program one - Explore your local creek

In program one, you will take your class to explore a local creek so they can learn about the importance of waterways. The program includes instructions on how to use a dipnet and how to identify macroinvertebrates (or water bugs) which are indicators of waterway health. Follow the instructions in the downloadable documents below.

If you can't get to a local creek, you can visit a virtual creek.

Before you start, it's nice to do an Acknowledgement of Country. 

Children's Acknowledgement of Country - simple version

Here is the land,

Here is the sky,

Here are my friends,

And here am I.

We thank the Turrbal and Yuggera people for the land on which we play and learn from. 

We promise to take care of the land, animals and people too.

Watch a video on Council's YouTube channel of the Tumble Tots staff and children saying a simple version of the Children's Acknowledgement of Country. The video is 30 seconds long.

Children's Acknowledgement of Country - extended version

[This version is used by Tumble Tots Kindergarten.]

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which our kindy stands, the Turrbal and Yuggera people. Our neighbours are the Kabi Kabi, Waka Waka, Jiniburra, Yugumbeh and Quandammoka peoples and the people of the Torres Strait Islands.

Together we are connected to Mother Earth. The seas, streams, rivers and all living things. We will take care of this Land, the animals and people together. 'Bul'kuri' means come.

Watch a video on Council's YouTube channel of the Tumble Tots staff and children saying the extended version of the Children's Acknowledgement of Country. The video is 55 seconds long.

Learning outcomes

The following Early Years Learning Framework outcomes are supported by this session:

  • Learning outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
    • 2.4: Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment.
  • Learning outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
    • 3.2: Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.
  • Learning outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.
    • 4.2: Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching, and investigating.
    • 4.4: Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, places, technologies, and natural and processed materials.

Resources

Documents

Videos

  • Creek Neighbours song - audio file (1 minute and 51 seconds - see transcript in documents above)
  • How to dip net (3 minutes and 30 seconds)
    Transcript 

    >> EMILY: Hi I’m Emily and in this video, we’re going to learn how to dipnet in your creek. 

    But first, you’ll need a few things. You’ll need a light-coloured container filled with creek water.  

    A smaller ice cube tray and maybe a little spoon or a scoop, to scoop out some water bugs. 

    A dipnet, and it’s also handy to have a guide of some of the water bugs you might find in the creek. 

    This one here is available online for the Creek Neighbours program. 

    [Music]

    So, this is our dipnet. It’s a nice little net. It’s got tiny little holes, so the water can go out, and the little water bugs might get trapped inside.  

    So, I’m gonna squat down by the edge of the water and wave my net through the water, maybe around the edge. I’m very careful, I don’t want to get too much gravel. And then see if I can get over under here, maybe there’s some water bugs hiding under the edge near the vegetation. Then I’m going to come back. There’s something in here. And I’ll flick this over and empty it and shake it into the water tray. 

    >> KIDS: Tadpole, and larvae skin? 

    >> EMILY: Something. Yeah. Exoskeleton, and this one in here. 

    So, who thinks they know how to dipnet?   

    >> KIDS: Me! 

    >> EMILY: Alright, let’s get a net. Have some fun. 

    [Music] 

    >> EMILY: That’s alright, what have we got? And they don’t want to be caught remember, so, probably hide away.  

    If you do see something, do you want to empty it over? So, flip it over. 

    Good work and you might see some of these water bugs that live in the creek! 

    Oh, good job you guys, you’ve caught so many things. 

    [Music] 

    >> KID: I found a water bug!! 

    >> EMILY: Really? 

    You can use your ice cube tray to separate your water bugs. 

    >> KID: A water spider  

    >> EMILY: Oh look, it’s a dragon fly larvae. Good one Florence. 

    >> KIDS: A water spider has gotten out. My water spider has gotten out.  

    >> EMILY: That’s ok, he’ll be ok on the land.  

    >> KIDS: Can we put them back in the creek? 

    >> EMILY: Yeah, that’s where they live, so, we better put them back so they’re nice and happy back in the water.  

    [Music]

    >> EMILY: Ok gently. Good job boys!

    [Music]  

    >> EMILY: Out they go.  

    Back home.  

    Ok, have fun dip netting everyone.  

    [Outro Music] 

  • Where is Gracie? (3 minutes and 46 seconds)
    Transcript

    >> EMILY: Hello my name is Emily and I work at Brisbane City Council environmental centres. 

    I have a friend called Gracie.  

    Gracie is a Graceful Tree Frog, and she lives here at Downfall Creek.  

    But today, I can’t find Gracie, she’s missing! 

    Luckily, I have some friends who are going to help me track down Gracie.   

    Now where is Gracie? Let’s go find her.  

    Oh, Gracie.  

    >> KIDS: Gracie! 

    >> EMILY: Gracie, what are you doing here?  

    Does Gracie belong at the playground? 

    >> KIDS: No! She lives at the creek! 

    >> EMILY: Where? at the…? 

    >> KIDS: Creek!  

    >> EMILY: Oh at the creek. Let’s go and find Gracie’s proper home, her proper habitat. This way everyone. 

    [Music]

    >> EMILY: So, boys and girls, there’s a little bit of water here. Do you think this is an okay home for Gracie? 

    >> KIDS: No. 

    >> EMILY: Awww. Why is that? 

    >> KIDS: Because it’s dirty. 

    >> EMILY: Is there any shelter here for her?  

    >> KIDS: No. 

    >> EMILY: No shelter. What about, Is the water clean? 

    >> KIDS: No. 

    >> EMILY: No, it’s dirty. And what is the last thing that Gracie needs? 

    >> KIDS: Food. 

    >> EMILY: Does it look like there’s gonna be nice food for Gracie? 

    >> KIDS: No. 

    >> EMILY: No.  So not a very suitable home for Gracie here?

    Do you like it here Gracie? Let’s go find a healthy creek for Gracie.  

    >> KIDS: Yeah!!! 

    >> EMILY: Let’s go! 

    [Music] 

    >> EMILY: Come on Gracie!  

    Hey girls, Look, what I see here. What’s that? 

    >> KIDS: Dog poo.  

    >> EMILY: Does dog poo belong in the bush? 

    >> KIDS: No. 

    >> EMILY: So, what should we do if we take our dogs for a walk? 

    >> KID: Come over to your dog and when it poos, and pick up the poo in a bag, so, it doesn’t end up in the bush and going down to the creek to make it disgusting.  

    [Music] 

    >> EMILY: If we are very quiet, we might see some animals.  

    [Music] 

    >> EMILY: So, where does Gracie live? 

    >> KIDS: Down there. 

    >> EMILY: And what’s down there? 

    >> KIDS: The creek. 

    >> EMILY: The creek. 

    [Music] 

    >> EMILY: Oh, look we’ve found the creek. Gracie’s home.  

    What does she need again? 

    >> KIDS: Clean water, Food, Shelter,  

    [Music] 

    >> EMILY: Let’s take her down to the creek.  

    >> KIDS: Ah ahhh! 

    [Outro Music] 

  • Underwater Explorer (2 minutes and 27 seconds)
    Transcript

    >> Mike: G’day guys. My name’s Mike! We’re going to go on an underwater adventure today. So let’s go!  

    Now when we’re in creeks, it’s really important to look around because things may be hiding below the water or even above.  

    Check out these guys, these are Crimson Spotted Rainbow fish. Look at their beautiful colours. Ooh! And there goes an Olive Perchlet.  

    Above the water, those things buzzing around – you might see on top – they’re Backswimmers or Whirligig Beetles.  

    Ooh look at that! A Dragonfly!  

    If you look closely, you can see an Eel!  

    Ooh there goes a tadpole. How cool is that?  

    Ooh. And some more Rainbow Fish. There’s a cheeky fella, an Empire Gudgeon in the corner.  

    And this is what some of our aquatic insects look like under a microscope.  

    Can you see those all on the top? They look like Backswimmers.  

    Some water is fast-flowing.  

    Oh look! There are some Caddisfly Larvae. They carry their house around like a Hermit Crab.  

    Some creeks are a little bit slower with lots of vegetation. Some are really rocky with fast-flowing water.  

    You might have creeks around your home that look a little bit like these. It’s really important that we have all this vegetation for their habitat.  

    Wow what an adventure! Well, I hope that encourages you to go down to your local creek and explore. So, from Mike and Basil, we’ll catch you later! 

Program two - Wildlife of our waterways

In program two, you will teach children about the importance of healthy creeks, encourage their natural curiosity and instinct to care for animals, and book a wildlife show at your kindergarten.

Sing the Creek Neighbour song with your children to help them remember the important things that make a creek healthy. Perhaps you can sing this song on your way to the creek.

Learning outcomes

The following Early Years Learning Framework outcomes are supported by this session:

  • Learning outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity.
    • 1.4: Children learn to interact in relation to others with care, empathy, and respect
  • Learning outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
    • 2.4: Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment.
  • Learning outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.
    • 4.1: Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination, and reflexivity.

Resources

Documents

Supporting information

This document is a drawing of a flowing creek surrounded by trees, rocks, grasses, a tree hollow and many native Australian animals. The animals are:

  • Blue triangle butterfly
  • Eastern grey flying-fox
  • Eastern water dragon
  • Giant barred frog
  • Golden orb-weaver spider
  • Grey-headed flying-fox
  • Kookaburra
  • Rakali
  • Red-necked wallaby
  • Tawny frogmouth
  • White-faced heron

Rich media 

Supporting information - video

Animals in order of appearance in video:

Bearded dragon - Pogona barbata
Water dragon - Intellagama lesueurii
Squirrel Glider - Petaurus norfolcensis
Tawny frogmouth - Podargus strigoides
​​​​​​Kookaburra - Dacelo novaeguineae
Eastern long-necked turtle - Chelodina longicollis
Green tree frog - Litoria caerulea
Carpet python - Morelia spilota
Green tree snake - Dendrelaphis punctulata

* large file warning

Program three - The adventures of Gracie 

In program three, your kindergarten can receive a free Gracie toy by completing the online form. Gracie is a Graceful Tree Frog and is one of Council's fauna mascots. As a kindergarten teacher, you can decide how you'd like to incorporate Gracie into the program.

Learning outcomes

  • Learning outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity.
    • 1.4: Children learn to interact in relation to others with care, empathy, and respect.
  • Learning outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
    • 2.1: Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation.
    • 2.3: Children become aware of fairness.
    • 2.4: Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment.
  • Learning outcome 5: Children are effective communicators.
    • 5.1: Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes.
    • 5.2: Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts.
    • 5.3: Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media.

Resources

Documents

Program four - Kindy project 

In program four, you are encouraged to create a variety of habitats in your kindergarten grounds to build biodiversity and support wildlife that visits local waterways. Biodiversity is the building block of functional ecosystems, but is currently under threat worldwide. Creating habitat in backyards, parks, school grounds, and kindergartens contributes to biodiversity and the creation of green corridors, which are essential for animal movement and survival.

Learning outcomes

  • Learning outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
    • 2.1: Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation.
    • 2.4: Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment.
  • Learning outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.
    • 4.1: Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination, and reflexivity.
    • 4.2: Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching, and investigating.
    • 4.3: Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another.
    • 4.4: Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, places, technologies, and natural and processed materials.
  • Learning outcome 5: Children are effective communicators.
    • 5.1: Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes.

Resources

Documents

*large file warning

Share your feedback and Gracie adventures with us

That's a wrap! Thank you for participating in the Creek Neighbours online program. You are now a Creek Neighbour Kindy!

Our aim is to foster environmental stewardship of natural areas across Brisbane by creating an understanding of catchments and what we can do to improve waterway health. We want to teach children how to be good creek neighbours.

Share your kindergarten's feedback and Gracie adventures with us (including your in-kindy project and creek visits) by emailing the Creek Neighbours team. A member of our Environment Centres team will be in touch to discuss the program.

Goodbye from Gracie!

Acknowledgements

Brisbane City Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and their unique relationship with their ancestral country. We pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of Brisbane and recognise their strength and wisdom.

The program was made possible thanks to the support of our pilot kindergartens:

  • Ballymore Kindy
  • Bardon Community Kindy
  • Cannon Hill Community Kindergarten
  • Mitchelton Pre-Schooling Centre
  • Tumble Tots Kindergarten, Stafford Heights.

"The kids have loved it. For us, it just compliments what we are already doing so well, and it's really helped some of the staff to broaden their knowledge in terms of what to look for when we go down to the creek. Being partnered with Council, who fully endorse us doing what we're doing, is really powerful."

Matt - Director, Bardon Community Kindy 

The program was inspired by Council's Waste Smart Kindy program.

Additional resources

Download our additional resources document (Word - 710kb) for links to support the delivery of the Creek Neighbours program.

More information

For more information about the Creek Neighbours program, contact Council's Environment Centres team by email or phone them during business hours on 07 3407 2400.

Last updated:

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.