Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Water environments incursion program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Water environments near your school
Cost

2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $28 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
School preparation

Ensure all class teachers have visited the site and are familiar with the route from school to it.
Welfare

Participants will be bushwalking during the day in potentially rugged terrain. Toilets may only be available at the start and end of the day.

This incursion 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 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 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 for up to six classes

Time

Activity
9.30 - 9.45

Introduction, toilets, crunch and sip

Equipment bags distributed at school or bushland site
9.45 - 12.30

Bushwalk and activities, including recess
1.00 - 1.30

Lunch at bushland site
1.30 - 2.15

Bushwalk and activities
2.15 - 2.30

Pack up and head back to school

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Learning activities

Students investigate the natural and human features water environments and how they are used and cared for.

Key questions

  • What are the natural and human features of local water environments?  
  • How do people use and care for these environments?

Fieldwork

Students will embark on an exciting journey to explore the water environments near your school. They will engage in hands-on activities, observing and describing the natural and human features of these places. They will learn how these environments are used by people and animals and discover ways to care for them sustainably.

Along the way, they will stop for various sensory activities, such as invertebrate hunts and exploring natural environments to enhance their understanding of these unique Australian water environments.

This incursion will also provide an opportunity for students to recognize and acknowledge the ways in which Aboriginal Peoples value water Country and Place.

Throughout the day, students will use a variety of hands-on fieldwork tools and sensory experiences to collect data.

At the end of the day students will work in small groups to create a memory map of the area's natural features. They will present their findings, describe the features and suggest actions for caring for these precious water environments.

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Syllabus outcomes and content

Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus (2024) 

People are connected to places and groups

Outcomes

  • Describes ways people connect to and care for places, water environments and each other, using geographical information HS1-GEO-01 

Content 

People care for Australia's water environments

  • Observe and describe natural and human features of Australian rivers, lakes, beaches and oceans by collecting and representing data
  • Compare the ways people use water environments in Australia by posing questions to collect data
  • Explain how people can use and care for water responsibly

Human Society and its Environment 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

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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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