Environmental change and management excursion | Stage 5 Geography | Field of Mars EEC

Cost and details

Cost 2026	DoE school $27 per student – GST free Non-gov school $37 per student – GST free, minimum charge $750 per class
Classes	Maximum 8 classes with up to 30 students per class.
Risk assessment	See location tile below.
Activities	Activities may change to suit student needs, the selected site and weather conditions.
Bring	View Preparing for your excursion. Bring worksheet, writing equipment, clipboard, medications, low-waste food, water bottles, sunblock, hat and raincoat in a backpack. Sports uniform recommended. This program requires students to use a mobile device to record data. Inform the centre if devices are not permitted.
Welfare	Participants will be walking all day. Some sites not wheelchair accessible - contact centre. 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

Fieldwork activities

Introduction

Students unpack the fieldwork inquiry questions about environmental change along the Lane Cove River. Students review fieldwork tools, data collection and how they will evaluate current management strategies across the site.

Mapping

Students interpret a map of Blackman Park and the Lane Cove River, labelling key natural and built features of the riverine landscape.

Water quality testing

Students use Streamwatch-style field equipment to test dissolved oxygen, phosphate and turbidity and summarise class results. Students use their results to explain how these indicators influence aquatic life, then evaluate what the data suggests about environmental change and management at the site.

Microplastics dispersion

Students use quadrats to investigate the dispersion of microplastics from synthetic playing surfaces. By identifying biophysical processes that transport microplastics, they use data to evaluate environmental consequences of synthetic surfaces and management at the site.

Invasive plants

Students investigate the introduction of invasive plants in remnant eucalypt forest. Using a line transect students record percentage weed ground cover from track edge into bushland and explain dispersal pathways and impacts on native vegetation, before proposing evidence-based management improvements.

Management survey

Students undertake a guided survey of management approaches implemented at at Blackman Park. Students will use their observations to conduct a focused study of one management issue affecting the riverine environment, evaluate the effectiveness of management and make suggestions for improvement.

Worksheet and supporting resources

Worksheet	Worksheet Schools are responsible for printing student worksheets.
Additional learning resources	Stimulus booklet - supporting secondary resources Fieldwork techniques Fact sheets - animal, plant and environment fact sheets

Suggested timetable

Time	Activities
9.30 - 10.00	Introduction and fieldwork preparation Food break, toilets, fieldwork preparation
10.00 - 11.45	Fieldwork activities - Inquiry 1 and 2
11.45 - 12.15	Food break and toilets
12.15 - 2.00	Fieldwork activities - Inquiry 3 and 4
2.00 - 2.15	Conclusion and depart

Syllabus outcomes and content

NSW Geography 7–10 Syllabus (2024)

Outcomes

• explains how the diverse features and characteristics of a range of places and environments change over time GE5-DFC-01
• analyses the processes and interactions that transform people, places and environments GE5-PRI-01
• assesses different approaches to the management and protection of places and environments GE5-MAN-01
• applies and evaluates a range of geographical tools to acquire and process geographical information GE5-TAP-01

Content

Environmental change

• The role and importance of Earth’s environments
• Biophysical processes that change Earth’s environments
• Human-induced environmental changes over time across a range of scales
• Consequences of environmental change
• Management strategies to reduce the impacts of environmental change, including prevention, mitigation and preparedness strategies
• Methods used to assess sustainability when managing environmental change

Geography 7–10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024

NSW Geography K–10 Syllabus (2015)

Outcomes

• explains processes and influences that form and transform places and environments GE5‑2
• analyses the effect of interactions and connections between people, places and environments GE5‑3
• assesses management strategies for places and environments for their sustainability GE5‑5
• acquires and processes geographical information by selecting and using appropriate and relevant geographical tools for inquiry GE5‑7

Content

Environmental change

Students:

• investigate human-induced environmental changes across a range of scales

Environmental management

Students:

• investigate environmental management, including different worldviews and the management approaches of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Investigative study

This fieldwork investigation can be used for the investigative study.

Select ONE type of environment in Australia as the context for a comparative study with at least ONE other country.

Students:

• investigate the biophysical processes essential to the functioning of the selected environment
• investigate the causes, extent and consequences of the environmental change  (ACHGK073)
• investigate the management of the environmental change (ACHGK074, ACHGK075)

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