Experience Engage Enable
T: Telephone02 9816 1298
| Location | Meadowbank Wallumedegal Country |
| Bus access | Bus information coming |
| Cost | 2023 DoE $25 per student - GST free 2023 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $600 |
| Risk assessment | |
| Walking route | YouTube walking route overview video coming |
| Welfare | Participants will be walking all day in an outdoor urban environment. This excursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell. Toilets are only available at the beginning and end of the day. |
| Bring | Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, wet whether gear, hat, sports uniform, sturdy shoes, mask (if required). There are no shops near the study site. |
| View | |
| Preparation and supporting resources | Supporting resources coming
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| Bin access | All student waste to be taken home by students. |
| 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 whether | 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. |
Time |
Classes |
| 9.45 - 10.15 | Introduction - Helene Park Recess, toilets and equipment distributed |
| 10.15 - 12:00 | Walk and activities |
| 12.00 - 12.30 | Lunch at a scenic spot on the Parramatta River |
| 12.30 - 2.00 | Walk and activities |
| 2.00 - 2.15 | Toilets and depart at Helene Park |
Students explore the diverse and dynamic suburb of Meadowbank to engage in place-based inquiry examining the cultural, social, economic, infrastructural and environmental factors that influence its liveability. The excursion commences with a panoramic view of the suburb to contextualise the study. Students conduct a liveability survey, stopping at sites of interest to collect qualitative and quantitative data using specialised fieldwork equipment. This data will be analysed and discussed with respect to varying perceptions of liveability.
Inquiry questions
Fieldwork
This program offers Stage 4 students with an authentic opportunity to develop their fieldwork skills and use specialised scientific equipment.
Students will engage in multiple fieldwork activities using digital and non-digital geographic tools to measure, assess and evaluate the liveability of Meadowbank and the Parramatta River foreshore.
The excursion commences with exploratory and observational activities which develop students' sense of place. Students will conduct a field sketch of the whole study area, identify study sites, and make predictions as they draw visual comparisons.
Students will complete a survey of three key sites of interest in Meadowbank to quantify and qualify the built and natural features of the suburb across a range of liveability criteria including social, cultural, economic and environmental factors. Students will use scientific equipment to measure environmental quality including light, sound, wind speed, and temperature.
Students engage in a case study of swimming in the Parramatta River, using historical photos and water quality testing methods to examine how urbanisation has impacted environmental quality, and how this in turn has impacted liveability for surrounding suburbs.
Through discussion, students will collectively analyse their data and draw personal evaluations on the liveability of each study site. Students will be encouraged to engage in deep thinking as they reflect of their own perceptions of liveability and how this influences conclusions drawn.
NSW Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015)
Outcomes
Content
Influences and perceptions
Students:
Access to services and facilities
Students:
Environmental quality
Students:
Community
Students:
Enhancing liveability
Students:
address
Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112
telephone 02 9816 1298
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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