Earth’s Environment: Eucalypt forest excursion
HSIE geography
Program
Students investigate the natural vegetation and resources of the eucalypt forest and the value of this environment to animals and people.
Learning intention
- We are learning to observe and record natural characterstics of the environment.
- We are learning about interactions between plants and animals in the environment.
Activities
Students will undertake a bushwalk as ‘place detectives’. Through teacher-led and student-directed activities, students will investigate and record the characteristics of the forest, evidence of animals and their interconnection with the environment.
Fieldwork tools will include sensory observation, invertebrate hunts and recording through sketching, mapping, watercolour and tallies in their take-home field journal. Students may also participate in a number of self-led, free choice activities.
Location options
Field of Mars Reserve
Main location – including bus maps, risk management advice, track overview
Buffalo Creek Reserve
Alternative location – including bus maps, risk management advice, track overview
Blackman Park
Alternative location – including bus maps, risk management advice, track overview
Essential information
| Cost 2025 |
DoE $25 per student – GST free Non-gov school $35 per student – GST free, min charge $750 |
| Cost 2026 |
DoE $27 per student – GST free Non-gov $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 | Recommended maximum 6 classes. |
| Bring | Sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, reusable name tag. |
| View | |
| 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 |
| Time | Activities |
| 9.45 - 10.30 |
Introduction Toilets, recess, equipment bags distributed |
| 10.30 - 12.00 | Bushwalk and activities |
| 12.00 - 12.30 | Lunch and toilets |
| 12.30 - 2.00 | Bushwalk and activities |
| 2.00 - 2.15 | Pack up, toilets and depart |
Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015)
The Earth's environment
Outcomes
- Examines features and characteristics of places and environments GE2-1
- Describes the ways people, places and environments interact GE2-2
- Acquires and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry GE2-4
Content
Significance of environments
-
Investigate the importance of natural vegetation and natural resources to the environment, animals and people, for example:
- identification of types of natural vegetation eg forests, grasslands, deserts
- explanation of the importance of natural vegetation to animals and the functioning of the environment eg provision of habitats, production of oxygen
- discussion of the importance of natural vegetation and natural resources to people
Other syllabus links
Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content:
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)
Outcomes
- Compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things ST2-4LW-S
Content
Survival of living things
- Describe how living things depend on each other and environment to survive
Geography K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2015
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2017
