Life cycles excursion program

Teacher checklist

Main location	Field of Mars Reserve, Pittwater Road, East Ryde Wallumedegal Country Google maps - Apple maps
	Supply bus driver with Field of Mars Reserve bus information No bus entry into Field of Mars Reserve.
	Field of Mars Reserve risk management plan
	View the YouTube track overview videos. Buffalo Creek track Doyle and Warada loop track
Alternate location	Buffalo Creek Reserve, 117 Pittwater Road, Hunters Hill Wallumedegal Country Google maps - Apple maps
	Supply bus driver with Buffalo Creek bus information. No bus entry into Buffalo Creek Reserve carpark.
	Buffalo Creek Reserve risk management plan
	View the YouTube track overview videos. Sugarloaf Point loop track
Cost	2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free 2025 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750 Term 1 - Catholic school Weeks 3 to 7 cost = DoE cost - 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).
Welfare	Participants will be bushwalking during the day in rugged terrain. Limited wheelchair accessibility. Email to confirm with location. 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. Teachers to bring one tote tray per class to transport clay models back to school.
View	Preparing for an excursion
Supporting resources	Student activities Social story – Life cycles Phasmids - available free from Apple Books Animal and plant fact sheets
Bin access	All student waste to be taken home by students.
Parent/carer helpers	Optional one parent 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, C	Classes D, E, F
9.45 - 10.30	Introduction, recess and toilets	Introduction, recess and toilets
10.30 - 12.00	Bushwalk	Invertebrate investigation
12.00 - 12.30	Lunch	Lunch
12.30 - 2.00	Invertebrate investigation	Bushwalk
2.00 - 2.15	Pack up, toilets and depart	Pack up, toilets and depart

Life cycles excursion

Science and technology

Program

Students will explore the Field of Mars Reserve to find and observe native plants and animals in different stages of their life cycle.

Learning intention

We are learning to identify living things at different stages of their life cycle.
We are learning to describe how living things change as they grow.

Activities

Bushwalk

Students will explore the reserve on a bushwalk, locating and observing different life stages of various native plants and animals and describing how their external features change as they grow.

Invertebrate investigation

At the Field of Mars centre students will conduct a focused investigation of invertebrates. They will use scientific equipment to collect and observe invertebrates, identify their life stages, and record data. Using clay and natural materials, students will construct a scientific model of an invertebrate in a stage of its growth.

Syllabus outcomes and content

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Investigations of changes provide knowledge and understanding

Outcomes

Poses questions based on observations and information to investigate cause and effect ST1-PQU-01
Measures and describes changes in living things, materials, movement, Earth and the sky ST1-SC1-01

Content

Living things change over time

Collect data about the variety of living things in a local habitat, group them and justify the groupings
Describe the changes in a plant as it grows using data and scientific models
Describe the changes in an animal as it goes through its life cycle using data and scientific models

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

observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas ST1-1WS-S
describes observable features of living things and their environments ST1-4LW-S

Content

External features of living things

describe the external features of a variety of living things

Living things change

explore how living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves

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

Return to program summary

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

address Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112

telephone 02 9816 1298

email fieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Get directions

Life cycles excursion program

Teacher checklist

Suggested timetable for up to four classes

Time

Classes A, B, C

Classes D, E, F

Life cycles excursion

Science and technology

Program

Syllabus outcomes and content

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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