Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Little ants and friends incursion program

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Flannel flower with beetle
Children at a desk

Teacher checklist

Location

Your school
Cost

2025 DoE $16 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $20 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
Bring

Students wear hats, sports uniform and reusable name tag.
Supporting resources

Invertebrate fact sheets

Invertebrate Explorer - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets
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. 
Extreme or wet weather

Days predicted to be above 35ºC, high winds, extreme bush fire danger and dust storms may result in the incursion 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

Time

Classes

Morning session

9.30–11.00

 Up to 2 classes 

Middle session 

11.30–1.00

Up to 2 classes

Afternoon session 

1.30–3.00

Up to 2 classes

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Learning activities

Students will explore the world of ants and other invertebrates to build knowledge and vocabulary of their features, habitat, behaviours and role. 

Key questions

  • What can we learn about ants and invertebrates by watching them?

  • What can I learn about ants and their friends by pretending to be one?

Ant investigations

An outdoor reading of the picture book Hey, Little Ant challenges students to consider an ant's point of view. To find out more, students observe the behaviours of ants and other invertebrates in their natural habitat and use magnifying equipment to identify their unique features. 

An ant's eye view

To develop a deeper understanding of an ant's perspective, students will explore their mini world through a macro lens, engage in role play games and build a model of an invertebrate. Appropriate word choices are encouraged and recorded for use in the classroom.

Students will record their findings in a class scrapbook using field jounalling techniques. A word bank of Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary will be developed to support word choices when writing texts.

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Syllabus outcomes and content

English K-10 Syllabus (2022)

Vocabulary

Outcome

  • Understands and effectively uses Tier 1, taught Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to extend and elaborate ideas EN1-VOCAB-01

Content

Learning and using words

  • Understand and intentionally choose subject-specific vocabulary to enhance precision and for effect

Understanding and responding to literature

Outcome

  • understands and responds to literature by creating texts using similar structures, intentional language choices and features appropriate to audience and purpose EN1-UARL-01

Content

Perspective and argument

  • Identify how structure and images reinforce ideas

English textual concept - perspective

Students understand that perspectives may differ and that these differences need to be considered

They learn that:

  • Perspective may be expressed in different ways including the values expressed and the form of expression.

Other syllabus links

This program also supports but does not explicitly teach the following 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
English K–10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2022
English textual concepts © NSW Department of Education, 2016
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-10 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 

Working scientifically

  • explore and answer questions through participation in guided scientific investigations 
  • compare observations with those of others 
  • make safe choices when using materials and equipment

Content

External features of living things

  • describe the external features of a variety of living things 

Living things live in different places

  • identify that living things live in different places that suit their needs 

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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