Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Factors that shape places incursion program

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A turtle

Teacher checklist

Location

Location 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
Welfare

Participants may be bushwalking all day in rugged terrain.

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

Student activities

Eucalypt Forest Digital Book for iPads and Macs

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. 

Check COVID-19 restrictions.
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 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

 
This suggested timetable supports up to four classes. Actual times may vary.

Time

Activity
9.15 - 9.45

Introduction at school or local area
9.45 - 10.15 Recess
10.15 - 12.30 Activity 1
12.30 - 1.00

Lunch
1.00 - 2.00 Activity 2
2.00 - 2.15

Concluding activity 
2.15 - 2.45 Pack up and return to school

 

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Learning activities

Students undertake geographical inquiry in bushland to investigate its features, human influences and natural values.

Inquiry questions

  • What are the geographical features of the bushland?
  • What is the water quality of the creeks that flow through the bushland?
  • How is the local bushland managed for people, places and the environment?
  • What actions can be undertaken to sustainably manage the bushland into the future?

Fieldwork

This excursion will explore the bushland local to your school and the creeks that flow through it. Students will also examine the surrounding urban areas and determine the effects they have on the reserve. 

To start, students will discuss the area, the day’s inquiry and the geographical fieldwork tools and methods to be used throughout the walk. Throughout the day students will collect primary data by conducting chemical and physical water quality testing, vegetation surveys and record geographical features using iPad photography.

Students will work in pairs to interpret their information. Connections between the bushland’s natural characteristics, human influences and management strategies will be analysed and ideas for future actions will be considered. 

Student photographs will be saved and sent to school via a Google Drive link.

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Syllabus outcomes and content

 
Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015)

Factors that shape places

Outcomes

  • describes the diverse features and characteristics of places and environments GE3-1 
  • explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments GE3-2 
  • compares and contrasts influences on the management of places and environments GE3-3 
  • acquires, processes and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry GE3-4 

Content

Environments shape places

  • investigate how the natural environment influences people and places

Humans shape places

  • Investigate how people influence places


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

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

Content

  • describe how changing physical conditions in the environment affect the growth and survival of living things

Geography K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2015

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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