Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Electric invertebrates program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Your school and local site
Cost

DoE $22 per student - GST free

Non-gov school cost $32 per student - GST free, minimum charge $600
Risk assessment

Risk management plan

COVID-19 safety plan
School preparation

Please provide one 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 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 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.

Suggested timetable

 
Actual times may vary.

Time

Activities
9.30 - 11.00

Session 1
11.30 - 1.00

Session 2 
1.30 - 3.00

Session 3

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Learning activities

Students will investigate observable features of invertebrates and create digital artwork using a stylus and iPad. 

Inquiry questions

  • What invertebrates live in the school?
  • How can we make digital artworks of them?

Invertebrate investigation 

The focus of this session is for students to work cooperatively to conduct an investigation, using simple equipment, to explore and discover invertebrates living in the school grounds. Students will work in small groups to search for and collect invertebrates in the gardens within the school. 

Collected specimens will then be examined using personal magnifiers and identified using ID charts. Some of the collected invertebrates will be magnified onto a smart board and features and adaptations explained.

Electric bugs

After careful observation and study of an invertebrate students create an observational drawing of one using a stylus and iPad. Students will use a number of apps to manipulate their created image. 

Images will be downloaded and provided to the school as a digital copy. 

Time permitting students will display their artworks for a short exhibition allowing students to appreciate and evaluate their works.

Syllabus outcomes and content

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2006)

Outcomes and content

A student:

  • VAS3.1 Investigates subject matter in an attempt to represent likenesses of things in the world.
  • VAS3.2 Makes artworks for different audiences, assembling materials in a variety of ways.

Other syllabus links

Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content.

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)

Outcomes 

A student:

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

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2006

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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