Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Adaptations excursion program

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Teacher checklist

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
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

Students will be outdoors most of the day, walking in rugged terrain.

Limited wheelchair accessibility.

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

Student activities

Animal and plant 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 and B

Classes C and D
9.45 - 10.30

Introduction, recess and toilets
10.30 - 12.00 Adaptations bushwalk Invertebrate investigations
12.00 - 12.30

Lunch and toilets
12.30 - 2.00 Invertebrate investigations Adaptations bushwalk
2.00 - 2.15

Conclusion, pack up and depart

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possum sitting on tree branch

Learning activities 

Students will learn about structural and behavioural adaptations of living things through a range of hands-on activities. Students will practise the scientific skills of observing to make inferences about the adaptations of a range of Australian plants and animals in situ. Students record their findings in a field journal which can be taken back to school for further investigations.

Key question

  • How do the behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals support survival?

Adaptations lab 

Students will be introduced to the concepts of structural and behavioural adaptations through a guided observation of a spiny-leaf insect. Students will collect and observe their own invertebrates and conduct and self-directed investigation of structural and behavioural adaptations. Students will use specialised equipment and tools to enhance their observation skills and record their findings in a fieldwork journal.

Adaptations bushwalk

Students will explore the Field of Mars Reserve on a rugged bushwalk, observing the different structural and behavioural adaptations of the native plants and animals that live there. Students will explore different ways of recording scientific information in their fieldwork journal.

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Syllabus outcomes and content 

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions

Outcomes

  • Uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices ST3-SCI-01
  • Interprets data to support explanations and arguments ST3-DAT-01

Content

Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments

  • Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments

Creating written texts in Science and Technology

Outcome

  • Creates written texts to communicate understanding of scientific and technological concepts and processes ST3-CWT-01

Content

Creating written explanations of concepts and processes supports understanding of Science and Technology

  • Use compound and complex sentences and labelled diagrams to create a text that explains a process, concept or investigation

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)

Outcome

  • examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-4LW-S 

Content

Adaptations of living things

  • describe adaptations as existing structures or behaviours that enable living things to survive in their environment

  • describe the structural and/or behavioural features of some native Australian animals and plants and why they are considered to be adaptations

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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