Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

AR Adaptations incursion program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Your school
Cost

2024 DoE $24 per student - GST free

2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free

2024/25 Non-gov school cost $28 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750
Risk assessment

Risk management plan

COVID-19 safety plan
School preparation If possible provide one extra large learning space, with a smart board, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate multiple classes.
Supporting resources

Invertebrate Explorer - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets
Medical or special needs Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion. 
Cancellations

Cancellations with less than four school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather or fire danger.

Suggested timetable

 
The suggested timetable is suitable for up to 3 classses.
 
This program runs for approximately 4 hours.

Time

Classes 1,2 (and 3)
9.00 - 11.00

Session 1

Investigating invertebrates

Adaptations lab
11.30 - 1.00

Session 2

AR adaptations

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Learning activities 

Students will learn about structural and behavioural adaptations of Australian invertebrates through a range of hands-on activities. 

Inquiry question

  • How do the structural and behavioural features of living things support survival?

Investigating invertebrates

Students will work small groups to search for and collect leaf litter or arboreal invertebrates in the gardens and trees found in the school or local area using equipment provided by Field of Mars teachers. 

Adaptations lab 

Students will be introduced to the concepts of structural and behavioural adaptations through a guided observation of an invertebrate on a large display.

Students will use specialised equipment and tools to enhance their observation skills and record their findings.

Based on their observations students will use a digital pencil with an iPad to bring an invertebrate to life.  They will create a digital drawing of invertebrate including its structural adaptations while exploring bilateral symmetry.  

AR Adaptations

The true potential of their drawings will be unlocked though an augmented reality (AR) app. As the invertebrate materializes before their eyes, students will be able to layer their digital drawing on reality. 

They can walk around it, examine it from every angle, and even interact with it.

Finally students will narrate an informative video describing their AR invertebrates adaptations.

 

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Syllabus outcomes and content 

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Outcomes

A student:

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

Content

Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions

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

Students:

  • 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

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

Students:

  • use notetaking, journalling, annotations and labelled images to create a multimodal text that documents the design processes involved in developing a solution
This program supports but does not explicitly teach the following content:
  • use compound and complex sentences and labelled diagrams to create a text that explains a process, concept or investigation
  • use nominalisations to convey scientific and technological concepts and processes succinctly

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)

Outcomes

A student:

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

Content

Adaptations of living things

Students:

  • 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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