Forces incursion | Stage 4 Science | Field of Mars EEC

Cost, risk assessment and details

Cost	DoE school $20 per student – GST free Non-gov school $26 per student – GST free, minimum charge $750 per class Schools outside Greater Sydney – minimum charge $750 per class
Program length	Recommended 2 hours per session. Maximum 2 sessions per day.
Risk assessment and risk management advice	Risk management plan
Classes	Maximum 4 classes per day with up to 30 students per class - maximum 2 classes per session.
Worksheet	Workbook Students will be provided with a workbook. Teachers will be provided with sample responses post-visit.
School preparation	Please provide one large outdoor space and one large indoor or sheltered learning space (for example, hall or double classroom) for all participating classes for the duration of the day.
Medical or additional needs	Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion.
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 and rescheduling	Cancellation or rescheduling with less than 30 school days’ notice before the booking date – $650 Cancellation with less than 14 school days’ notice before the booking date – full program cost Cancellation due to unsafe weather or fire danger – $0

Activities

Tools and technologies workshop (1 hour)

Students will create, use, and test a range of traditional tools and technologies, including the use of fire drills to generate heat, grinding stones to create stone tools, and traditional clubs to facilitate hunting. Through guided questioning, students will make inferences about the application of the knowledge of forces in these everyday activities and record their findings in a student workbook.

Woomera investigation (1 hour)

Students investigate the traditional practice of spear throwing among Aboriginal Peoples. After being introduced to the woomera and its use as a lever, students will conduct a scientific experiment to compare the distance of throwing a spear with and without the aid of a woomera. Students will collect and record primary data in a workbook.

Explore related fact sheets

Use these student-friendly fact sheets before or after your Forces incursion to support learning about Aboriginal technologies, plant materials, Country and scientific investigations.

• ⁠Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – Explore local Country, bushland, waterways, plants, animals and environmental history.
• ⁠Plants fact sheet – Learn about plant structures, adaptations and ways plants support people, animals and ecosystems.
• ⁠Grass tree fact sheet – Explore a native plant with flower spikes, resin, nectar and cultural significance.
• ⁠Old man banksia fact sheet – Learn about a banksia that provides nectar, seeds, shelter and bushland learning connections.
• ⁠Sydney red gum fact sheet – Discover a local eucalypt that provides leaves, flowers, timber, shade and habitat.
• ⁠Eucalypt forest ecosystem fact sheet – Learn about forests where plants, animals, fire, soil and cultural knowledge are connected.

Program timetable

Duration	Learning activity	Location
1 hour	Tools and technologies workshop	Large indoor space or sheltered outdoor area
1 hour	Woomera investigation	Oval or large, open outdoor space

Recommended program length is 2 hours.

Learning activities can run in either order.

Sessions with 2 classes will alternate activities.

Session timetable

Time	Classes
9.00 - 11.00	Classes A and B
11.30 - 1.30	Classes C and D

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

This program works best as a 2 hour session. This might require some classes to start recess or lunch early or late.

More than 4 classes will need to book an additional day.

Syllabus outcomes and content

Science 7-10 Syllabus (2023)

Outcomes

A student:

• SC4-FOR-01 describes the effects of forces in everyday contexts
• SC4-WS-02 identifies questions and makes predictions to guide scientific investigations
• SC4-WS-05 uses a variety of ways to process and represent data
• SC4-WS-06 uses data to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions
• SC4-WS-07 identifies problem-solving strategies and proposes solutions

Content

Forces

Simple machines in everyday life

• Identify examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ application of Knowledge about forces

Working scientifically

Questioning and predicting

• Identify questions and problems that can be investigated scientifically

Conducting investigations

• Assemble and use appropriate equipment and resources to perform an investigation
• Follow the planned procedure, including the measurement and control of variables
• Record observations and measurements accurately, using correct units for physical quantities

Processing data and information

• Use a range of representations to organise data, including graphs, keys, models, diagrams, tables and spreadsheets
• Calculate the mean and range of a dataset

Science and Technology 7-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2023