Primary HSIE Geography and History excursions and incursions | K–6 | Field of Mars EEC

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre offers HSIE Geography and History excursions and incursions for Early Stage 1 to Stage 3.

Students investigate places, environments, water, change, continuity and responsibility through fieldwork, mapping, observation, evidence and discussion.

Programs are led by qualified Department of Education teachers and support the NSW Human Society and its Environment K–6 Syllabus (2024) through geographical and historical inquiry.

Why choose HSIE Geography and History at Field of Mars EEC?

What will students do?

  • Students observe, sketch, photograph, map and record features of natural, built and managed places.
  • They use geographical tools such as maps, compasses, field journals, photographs, data tables and simple fieldwork equipment.
  • Students build HSIE vocabulary and communicate ideas about place, environment, change, sustainability and responsibility.
Fabric lizard toy on mossy rock, representing exploring and caring for special places in nature.

Special places excursion

Early Stage 1 | HSIE Geography

Students investigate why places are special by observing natural and built features, sharing ideas and practising ways to care for local environments.

Wooden coolamon and traditional-style tools on a kangaroo-hide surface, representing Aboriginal connections to Country.

Aboriginal connections to Country excursion

Stage 1 | HSIE History and Geography

Students learn about connections to Country by exploring significant places, plants, waterways, stories, responsibilities and ways Aboriginal Peoples care for Country.

An owl and a magnifying glass representing investigating in a National Park during an excursion.

National parks excursion

Stage 2 | HSIE Geography

Students use geographical inquiry to investigate national parks, collect fieldwork evidence and explain how people manage and protect environments.

Water-quality results sheet and colour chart kit on muddy ground, suggesting geography fieldwork testing.

Factors that shape places excursion

Stage 3 | HSIE Geography

Students investigate how natural and human processes shape places by collecting evidence, interpreting maps and data, and explaining environmental change.

HSIE excursions by Stage

Early Stage 1 excursions

Students explore why places are special by observing natural and built features, sharing feelings and connections to place, and practising caring behaviours.

Stage 1 excursions

Students investigate local places and stories by asking questions, using simple maps, and using observations and shared sources to describe change and continuity.

Stage 2 excursions

Students apply geographical inquiry to a local environment, using fieldwork (observations, sketches, simple data) to explain how people use and care for environments.

Stage 3 excursions

Students conduct deeper geographical inquiry: mapping, data collection and interpretation to explain processes that shape places and evaluate sustainability or management options.

HSIE incursions by Stage

Early Stage 1 incursions

Students explore features of their school/local area using guided questioning, simple maps and storytelling about caring for places, including Aboriginal perspectives.

Stage 1 incursions

Students use photographs, simple sources and mapping tasks to describe places, people and local history/geography, then communicate findings with labelled visuals.

Stage 2 incursions

Students investigate a local issue or environment by collecting information, organising data in tables/graphs, and proposing ways people can care for places.

Stage 3 incursions

Students interpret maps, images and data to explain patterns and change, then evaluate options and justify a preferred action for a local place.

Learn with us

iPad showing the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre online booking form for primary HSIE excursions.

Book now

Book a HSIE K–6 school excursion or incursion with Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre online.

iPad displaying a digital learning resource for students and teachers that supports Field of Mars primary HSIE excursions

Learning resources

Find digital learning resources, social stories and excursion preparation materials to suit HSIE excursions and incursions.

Collage of native animals and plants representing the Field of Mars flora and fauna fact sheets used before and after primary excursions

Fact sheets

Read our animal, plant and habitat fact sheets that can be used to support learning in HSIE.