Students using specialised equipment to observe and record features of invertebrates while making inferences about their adaptations

Adaptations | Stage 3 | Science and Technology incursion | Field of Mars EEC

Program overview

Adaptations is a Stage 3 Science and Technology incursion where students investigate structural and behavioural adaptations of invertebrates through hands-on fieldwork in the school grounds. Students learn safe collection methods, use specialised tools to observe and infer how features support survival, and record labelled diagrams and notes in a fieldwork journal.

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Learning intention

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Stage 3 students on the Adaptations incursion safely collecting invertebrates in their school grounds to investigate structural and behavioural adaptations
Stage 3 students drawing labelled diagrams of invertebrates and their structural and behavioural adaptations in a fieldwork journal

Activities

Invertebrate adaptations

Students observe a live phasmid and learn about its adaptations through an age-appropriate narrative. Students identify behavioural and structural adaptations and discuss how these features help the animal survive, with an option for gentle, supervised handling.

Invertebrate investigations

Students will work in small groups to find and collect invertebrates in your school grounds using a range of scientific equipment, such as leaf litter searches, tree shakes or sweep nets.

Adaptations journal

Collected invertebrates will be examined with personal magnifiers and identified using ID charts. Students will make inferences about each species’ adaptations.

Select invertebrates will be magnified on a large screen, and their features and adaptations will be detailed and explained.

Students will record structural and behavioural adaptations of their invertebrates in an adaptations journal through annotated scientific sketches and brief explanations.

This program is also available as an  excursion  or as a full day technology-focused incursion.

"The program was well organised and engaging for students."
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Essential information

Cost and details

Cost 2026

DoE $18 per student – GST free

Non-gov $24 per student – GST free, min charge $750 per class

Risk assessment

 Risk management plan

Classes

 Recommended maximum 4 classes per day with up to 30 students per class.

School preparation

 Schools to provide one extra large learning space, with a screen or projector, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate multiple classes.

View

 Adaptations student learning resource

Welfare

 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
9.00 - 11.00 Classes 1 and 2
11.30 - 1.30 Classes 3 and 4

This program works best in 2 hour blocks. This might require some classes to start recess or lunch early or late.

Please include your school's bell times in the notes section of your booking form.

Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary

infer, evidence, classify, explain, compare, survival, argument, structural adaptation, behavioural adaptation, invertebrate, exoskeleton, camouflage, species, external features, habitat

Syllabus outcomes and content

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions

Outcomes

  • Uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices ST3-SCI-01
  • Interprets data to support explanations and arguments ST3-DAT-01

Content

Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments

  • Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments

Creating written texts in Science and Technology

Outcome

  • Creates written texts to communicate understanding of scientific and technological concepts and processes ST3-CWT-01

Content

Creating written explanations of concepts and processes supports understanding of Science and Technology

  • Use compound and complex sentences and labelled diagrams to create a text that explains a process, concept or investigation

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, 2024

Book now button linking to Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre Stage 3 Adaptations incursion bookings

Book now

Book your primary incursion using our online booking form.

Adaptations student learning resource tile linking to supporting materials for the Stage 3 Adaptations incursion

Learning resources

View online lessons that support primary incursion and excursion programs.

Flora and fauna fact sheets tile for native invertebrates, plants and habitats that support learning about structural and behavioural adaptations

Flora and fauna fact sheets

View our curriculum-aligned fact sheets on Australian animals, plants, ecosystems and environments for NSW primary and secondary students, ideal for research, projects and classroom learning.