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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

Bush Christmas program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Your school
Cost

2023 DoE $16 per student - GST free

2023 Non-gov school cost $26 per student - GST free, minimum charge $600
Risk assessment

Risk management plan

COVID-19 safety plan
School preparation

Detailed information below. 
Bring

Students wear reusable name tag and mask (if required).
Parent/carer helpers

One or two parents per class, no siblings.

Check COVID-19 restrictions.
Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion. 

Students, staff and visitors must not attend if unwell, even with mild symptoms. 
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.
Class numbers

If more than one day is required for your school, bookings should be made on consecutive days. 

Suggested timetable for up to three classes

Time

Class
9.30 - 10.45

Class A
11.30 - 12.45

Class B
1.30 - 2.45

Class C

School preparation

Maximum 25 students per session. 

Program length is approximately 1 hr 15 mins. Please discuss with Field of Mars staff to arrange a timetable and session details.

Equipment / resources requirements for schools

Please provide:

  • Freshly fallen gum leaves to make wrapping paper. These should be collected by the students the day before or morning of their session.
  • Space for bags and ornaments to dry. Stencil bags can be laid out on the floor, on tables or pegged onto clothes lines. As drying time overlaps between sessions enough drying space for two classes is appreciated.

Space requirements

  • Please arrange vehicle access and a parking spot close to the Bush Christmas room as we bring a large amount of equipment with us. 
  • We need to set up in one indoor place for all sessions because of the large amount of equipment and display materials. The school hall is the preferred space. Alternatively, a prepared space on the ground floor is suitable (see furniture requirements below). If two days are booked the equipment needs to be left overnight.

Furniture requirements 

Please provide: 

  • A rectangular block of 2 large trestle tables or 6-8 desks for printing calico bags. There needs to be enough space for half the class to stand around the tables. Each bag is the size of a tabloid newspaper page. 
  • A rectangular block of 2 large trestle tables or 6-8 desks for making wrapping paper. The butchers paper is about A3 size.
  • A rectangular block of 2 large trestle tables or 6-8 desks for making clay ornaments. 
  • Floorspace or tables for colouring in.
  • See set up images on this page.

Instruction sheet for taking care of the ink on the fabric bags and colouring-in blackline master. 

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Learning activities

Through an Australian Christmas story, images and puppets, the students will be introduced to some well known Australian animals. 

Introduction 

Through a story and large images students will learn about the habitats of these Australian animals, what they eat and where they shelter, as well as special adaptations to their environment. To reinforce this, the students will meet a live gum-leaf eating stick insect.

Craft activities 

In two groups the students rotate through the following activities:

  • Printing calico bags - students use a roller and stencil to print a gum leaf and flower design onto a calico bag. 
  • Making wrapping paper - the students use gumleaves and crayons to create leaf rubbings onto paper.
  • Pressing ornaments - students will make clay ornaments using natural materials.

Conclusion 

The session concludes with the singing of an Australian Christmas song accompanied by hand-made bush percussion instruments.

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Syllabus outcomes and content

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)

Outcomes 

A student:

  • explores the characteristics, needs and uses of living things STe-3LW-ST 

Content

Characteristics and basic needs of living things

Students:

  • recognise that living things have basic needs including air, food and water (ACSSU002)

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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