Special places | Early Stage 1 HSIE geography excursion
Program overview
Students will explore the natural and human features of the Field of Mars Reserve to observe the characteristics of places within the bushland and consider how people can connect with and care for these places.
Learning intention
- We are learning to describe how the Field of Mars Reserve is special to people.
Activities
Creek places
Students use their senses to explore the banks of Buffalo Creek. Students will use a pictorial map to plan their route, hear the Aboriginal Dreaming story of Garigan the blue-tongue lizard and create a clay model of a blue-tongue lizard to take back to school.
Forest places
Students will visit a she-oak grove where they will learn the significance of this place to Aboriginal Peoples and others. Here they will then create their own shelters using natural materials.
Students will also explore the eucalypt forest on a short sensory bushwalk. Sensory activities may include nature spotting, exploring the micro-world with mini magnifiers, listen to a symphony of bush sounds and a treasure hunt of natural materials.
Location
Field of Mars Reserve
Main location – including risk assessment and risk management advice, bus map and track overview.
Essential information
Cost and details
Cost 2026 |
DoE $27 per student – GST free Non-gov school $37 per student – GST free, min charge $750 per class Term 1 – Non-gov weeks 3 to 6 cost = DoE cost – GST free, min charge $750 |
Classes |
Maximum 6 classes. |
Bring |
Sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, reusable name tag. Tote tray per class to bring back clay craft. |
View |
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Welfare |
Rugged bushwalking, limited wheelchair accessibility. May not suit recently unwell participants. For medical or special needs notify staff prior to program. |
Extreme or wet weather |
Program may be modified, postponed or cancelled due to predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms. |
Booking policy |
Confirm student numbers and classes 7 days in advance. |
Cancellation fee |
Less than 30 working school days – $600 Less than 7 working school days notice – full cost Weather or fire danger cancellation – $0 |
Suggested timetable
Time |
Classes A, B, C |
Classes D, E, F |
| 9.45 - 10.20 | Introduction Recess and toilets |
Introduction Recess and toilets |
| 10.20 - 11.50 | Sensory exploration of places |
People in places Forest places |
| 11.50 - 12.20 | Lunch and toilets | Lunch and toilets |
| 12.20 - 1.50 |
People in places Forest places |
Sensory exploration of places |
| 1.50 - 2.00 | Pack up, collect garigan clay models, toilets, depart | Pack up, collect garigan clay models, toilets, depart |
Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary
Syllabus outcomes and content
Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus (2024)
People are connected to places
Outcomes
- Identifies ways that Aboriginal Peoples connect with Country, Culture and Community HSE- ACH-01
- Identifies and locates places people connect with, using geographical information HSE-GEO-01
Content
Aboriginal Peoples are the Traditional Custodians of Country
- Engage with Aboriginal stories about land, water and sky Country
Places can be located and described using geographical information
- Recognise that familiar places can be represented in different ways
- Identify natural features of familiar places
- Identify human features of familiar places
- Participate in multi-sensory observations of familiar places
People are connected to places and each other
- Participate in activities to care for familiar places
Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024
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