Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

Emailfieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Secret life of birds excursion program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Field of Mars Reserve, Pittwater Road, East Ryde.

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps
Bus access

Supply bus driver with Field of Mars Reserve bus information

No bus entry into Field of Mars Reserve.
Cost

2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750

Schools are to confirm the number of students and classes at least 7 days prior to attending. Schools will be charged based on the number of students confirmed or number of students who attend on the day (whichever is greater). 
Risk assessment Risk management plan
Tracks

View the YouTube track overview videos.

Buffalo Creek Track

Doyle and Warada loop track
Welfare

Participants will be bushwalking during the day in rugged terrain.

Limited wheelchair accessbility.

This excursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell.
Bring

Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes.

Students wear reusable name tag and sports uniform.
View

Preparing for an excursion
Supporting resources

The Needs of Living Things - Animals - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets
Bin access

All student waste to be taken home by students.
Parent/carer helpers Optional one or two parents per class, no siblings. Closed shoes essential.
Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to excursion. 

Students, staff and visitors must not attend if unwell, even with mild symptoms. 
Extreme or wet weather

Days predicted to be above 35ºC, high winds, extreme bush fire danger and dust storms may result in the excursion being modified, postponed or cancelled. 
Cancellations

Cancellations with less than 30 working school days notice will incur a $600 administration fee. 

Cancellations with less than 7 working school days notice will incur the full cost for the program based on the original booking. 

Cancellations due to weather or fire danger are exempt from fees. 

Suggested timetable for up to four classes

Time

Classes A, B

Classes C, D
9.45 - 10.30

Introduction, recess and toilets

Introduction, recess and toilets
10.30 - 12.00

Waddle Giggle Gargle story and activities

Bird habitat bushwalk

Build a giant bird nest 
12.00 - 12.30

 Lunch 

Lunch 
12.30 - 2.00

Bird habitat bushwalk

Build a giant bird nest 

Waddle Giggle Gargle story and activities
2.00 - 2.15 

Toilets, pack up and depart 

Toilets, pack up and depart 

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Learning activities 

This excursion focuses on birds, their characteristics, needs, behaviours and the environment in which they live. Students will explore the bird habitat at the Field of Mars Reserve and participate in role play activities to investigate bird behaviours. 

Key questions

  • What are the characteristics of birds?
  • Where do birds live, how do they behave and what are their needs?
  • How can we care for our native birds? 

Fieldwork

Waddle Giggle Gargle story and activities

Waddle Giggle Gargle by Pamela Allen depicts the distinctive behaviours of magpies as they swoop, nest and feed their young. The story will launch student investigations into bird behaviour and their external features. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the external features of birds by building a small bird out of clay. They will then role play bird behaviours by building a small nest for their bird and collecting woolly worms to feed their chicks. 

Bushwalk

Students will participate in a bushwalk at the Field of Mars Reserve to explore the many different bird habitats found in the Sydney bushland. They are certain to see some of the many bird inhabitants of the reserve such as wood ducks, ibis, kookaburras, swamp hens, brush turkeys and wrens.

Build a giant bird nest

Students also have the opportunity to plan and build a giant bird’s nest using the abundant natural materials in our nature play space. Using role play, students will be invited to use their nests and this nature play space to demonstrate their understanding of bird behaviour such as finding food, feeding young and evading predators. 

Syllabus outcomes and content

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024) 

Observations and questions spark curiosity

Outcomes

  • Identifies and describes characteristics of living things, properties of materials, and movement STE-SCI-01 
  • Poses questions based on observations to collect data STE-PQU-01 

Content

Living things have characteristics that help them survive in their environment

  • Identify and use tools to aid and extend sensory observations

  • Describe how living things get air, water and energy to survive in their environment

  • Recognise that plants produce their own food, and animals need to find their food
  • Examine animal bodies, their body coverings and how and what they eat
  • Observe and group animals based on their characteristics and justify the grouping

Living things and objects move in different ways

  • Observe, describe and categorise the ways in which living things move

Observations and questions initiate design and digital solutions

Understanding user needs inspires design and digital solutions

  • Examine designed structures that animals build to help them survive in their environment

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

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017) 

Living world

Outcomes

  • explores the characteristics, needs and uses of living things STe-3LW-ST 
  • observes, questions and collects data to communicate ideas STe-1WS-S 

Content

Characteristics and basic needs of living things

  • recognises that living things have basic needs including air, food and water

  • compares the basic needs of some plants and animals

  • participates in guided investigations to identify living things and the external features of plants and animals in the local environment

  • communicates findings and observations of living things in their environment

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

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Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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