Be Crocwise learning materials and talks

Be Crocwise learning materials and talks by community engagement officers help Top End teachers and students learn about crocodile safety in the Northern Territory (NT).

School talks

The community engagement team can come out to your school to hold talks with your class (for urban schools) and can also give talks to your class via Skype.

To book a free Be Crocwise talk for your school, fill in the Be Crocwise school booking form:

Be Crocwise school booking form PDF (448.9 KB)
Be Crocwise school booking form DOCX (228.4 KB)

Submit it by mail, email or fax to:

Darwin Community Engagement Unit
GPO Box 1448
Darwin NT 0801
Fax: 08 8999 4558
becrocwise@nt.gov.au

Katherine Community Engagement Unit
PO Box 344
Katherine NT 0851 
Fax: 08 8973 8899
becrocwise@nt.gov.au

You can also call a community engagement officer to get more information:
Darwin: 08 8999 4432
Katherine: 08 8973 8865.

Be Crocwise learning materials

Getting creative with crocs

Getting creative with crocs activity resources engage students to think creatively about crocodiles.

Resource kit

The Be Crocwise teaching and learning resource kit PDF (8.3 MB) can be used by early, primary and middle-year teachers and activities can be modified to suit other year levels.

Activities can be completed as stand-alone lessons or as part of a larger unit of work.

The Be Crocwise resource kit has all of the following:

  • introduction and teacher notes
  • early years activities
  • primary years activities
  • middle years activities
  • appendix.

Resources

You can find out more about crocodiles from the following Be Crocwise resources:

View a Crocwise flyer PDF (571.0 KB) about boating and fishing safety in crocodile areas.

Design and graphics activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise visual activities in your classroom:

  • create a crocodile collage or poster using clippings and images from newspapers and brochures
  • create textures/patterns and images inspired by crocodiles to print on fabric or posters
  • use hand, foot and body prints to make life-sized crocodile images, use these to compare and contrast saltwater and freshwater crocodiles
  • research the number of businesses that have nothing to do with crocodiles but have used saltwater crocodiles in their marketing/advertising to promote their businesses
  • design a logo or a graphic design package such as a letterhead, flyer, or banner for a mock business and use saltwater crocodile images in your design
  • research the fashion and design industry and where saltwater crocodiles have inspired fashion, also look at where saltwater crocodile leather has been used in the fashion industry
  • design a collection of crocodile inspired clothing for a particular theme: evening wear, sportswear, resort wear, beach clothing, shoes, bags or head gear
  • create a sculpture of a saltwater and a freshwater crocodile using recycled materials only.

Language and maths activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise activities in your classroom:

  • use length and weight measurements or crocodile distribution in mathematics studies
  • set up debates and forum discussions using role plays to investigate the impact of saltwater crocodiles in your community
  • create an anthology of crocodile poems, songs and stories
  • write a jingle or song about Be Crocwise that could play on radio or TV
  • write a rap about how deadly saltwater crocodiles are
  • research how many books, both fiction and non-fiction, have been written about crocodiles and investigate the themes that have been covered
  • write a story about how your community sees saltwater crocodiles and produce it as a book to present to your school library - if possible translate this book into at least one other language spoken by children at your school.

Performance activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise activities in your classroom:

  • write, produce and perform a musical based on a crocodile story
  • make a film about saltwater crocodiles set in your community or school
  • research and find out how many movies, documentaries and feature films have been made about saltwater crocodiles
  • compare and contrast the different genres of movies - which are scientifically accurate and which have used artistic licence.

Tourism-related activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise activities in your classroom:

  • create a restaurant menu using saltwater crocodile as your theme
  • research your ingredients and write up the menu to make it sound irresistible - include entrees, mains, desserts and drinks inspired by saltwater crocodiles
  • imagine you are starting up an exclusive tour guiding business based around crocodiles in the NT - design itineraries and experiences and a brochure to promote your crocodile tour guiding business
  • imagine you are a landscape or exhibit designer for a new crocodile theme park with live animals and interactive displays and themed rides. Create a landscape plan for the theme park by researching what is needed to house and display saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat.

Photos for school use

The following photos can be used in your classroom to support learning activities.

Saltwater crocodile head:</br> Close together and forward facing eyes help crocs to see really well and accurately judge distances. They also have a transparent second eye-lid that helps them see underwater.Hands:</br> The largest saltwater croc captured in the NT was from the Mary River in 1974. It measured 6.4 metres in length. Saltwater crocodile:</br> Ranger Robbie with a juvenile saltwater croc. Saltwater crocs have a broad snout with stout teeth.Freshwater crocodile:</br> Ranger Joey with a juvenile freshwater croc. Freshwater crocs have a long narrow, tapered snout with needle-like teeth. Hatchling: A juvenile saltwater croc. The average saltwater croc egg weighs 113g and the average hatchling measures 29.3cm. Basking crocodiles: Basking crocs at Shady Camp. Crocs are often observed basking with their mouths open; it is thought that this prevents their brain from overheating while still allowing them to absorb heat.Camouflaged crocodile:The colouring of a crocs body allows them to camouflage into their surroundings really well. Crocs can move well on both land an in water:</br> Crocs can walk on land at speeds of 1-2km/hr. The can have short bursts of speed, rarely greater than 10km/hr, but the animal will tire quickly. Fast movers 1: Crocs are very agile seen here quickly moving back into the water. Fast movers 2: Crocs are very agile seen here quickly moving back into the water. Crocodile trap:</br> Traps are placed in both freshwater and saltwater systems to trap saltwater crocs. Crocodile trap: The door on the trap is shut. Do you think there is a crocodile inside?Ranger checking traps: Ranger John secures the jaws before removing this croc from the trap. Saltwater crocodile in trap: Saltwater crocs are caught in traps set by Parks and Wildlife Rangers. Captured crocs are sent to croc farms. Crocodile with top-jaw rope: The first thing that rangers need to when they capture a croc is get a top-jaw rope in place.Securing the jaws: The jaws are secured before a croc is fully brought into the boat.Freshwater crocodile in trap: A freshwater croc in a trap with its jaws secured. Slide marks: Croc slide marks are a sure sign that crocs inhabit the area. Be Crocwise and stay well away from slide marks.Crocodile patrols: The Crocodile Management Team spot a croc.Swimming crocodile: Crocs are able to close off their nostrils to prevent water entering their nose when submerged.Swimming crocodile: Saltwater crocs can stay underwater for at least one hour because they can reduce their heart rate to 2-3 beats per minute. This means that crocs can wait underwater until they see prey, or if people are using the same spot regular Minimum exposure posture: A croc can float with only their eyes and nostrils exposed, enabling it to approach prey without being detected.Night vision: While humans need torches to help them see at night, crocs have excellent night vision.Large saltwater crocodile and trap: This croc measured almost 5m in length. The eyes are covered to help keep the animal calm. Saltwater crocs have 64-68 teeth. If they loose a tooth, they are able to replace it with a reserve tooth waiting underneath.Slide marks: Croc slide marks are a sure sign that crocs inhabit the area. Be Crocwise and stay well away from slide marks.

Learn more about crocodiles

Find out more about the Be Crocwise crocodile safety campaign, conservation of crocodiles and crocodile capture and management.

See parks resources for schools about other wildlife.


Last updated: 14 October 2020

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