Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre logo

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Watch it grow program

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

2023 DoE $24 per student - GST free

2023 Non-gov school cost $34 per student - GST free, minimum charge $600

Risk assessment

Risk management plan

COVID-19 safety 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.

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, mask.

Students wear reusable name tag and sports uniform.

View

Preparing for an excursion

Supporting resources

Student activities

Social story – Watch it grow

Phasmids - available free from Apple Books

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.

Check COVID-19 restrictions.

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 three school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather, fire danger or COVID-19 restrictions.


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 

Build a phasmid

12.00 - 12.30

Lunch 

Lunch 

12.30 - 2.00

Invertebrate investigation

Build a phasmid

Bushwalk

2.00 - 2.15

Pack up, toilets and depart

Pack up, toilets and depart


Learning activities

Students will learn about the features of plants and animals and how they change as they grow through different life stages.

Inquiry question

  • How are adults similar to or different to their offspring?

Fieldwork

Bushwalk

The bushwalk will traverse several environments. Along the way students will undertake a variety of sensory activities to observe the different stages plants and animals go through as they grow and change. Some plants and animals will only be found in one or two life stages so visual props will also be used.

Invertebrate investigation

Students will work in small groups to search for and collect leaf litter invertebrates in the gardens around the education centre. Collected specimens will then be examined and identified using magnifiers and ID charts. Some will be magnified onto the IWB and their life stage and features explained.

Build a phasmid 

The session will be introduced with leaf insects from the centre’s collection and their various life stages shown and explained. Students will then choose a stage of growth of a leaf insect and work individually to create it from pipe cleaners and natural materials.



Syllabus outcomes and content

Science and technology K-6 Syllabus (2017) 

Outcomes

A student:

  • 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

Students:

  • describe the external features of a variety of living things

Living things change

Students:

  • 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