Experience Engage Enable
T: Telephone02 9816 1298
| Location | Meadowbank Wallumedegal Country |
| Meeting point | Meadowbank train station |
| Public transport | Arrive: Meadowbank train station Depart: Meadowbank train station |
| Cost | DoE $25 per student - GST free Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $700 |
| Risk assessment | Risk management plan |
| Welfare | Participants will be walking in urban areas. Limited wheelchair accessibility. This excursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell. Toilets are available in limited locations throughout the walk. |
| Bring | Writing materials, mobile device for audiovisual recording, medications, two water bottles, sunblock, hat and raincoat in a backpack. Sports uniform recommended. Although there are shops available it is suggested students bring a low waste, nutritious lunch. |
| View | Preparing for an excursion |
| Worksheet | The worksheet is available for view at the time of booking. |
| Supporting resources | |
| 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 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 four school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather or fire danger. |
Time |
Activities |
9.30 - 10.00 |
Arrival and introduction at Meadowbank train station |
10.00 - 11.00 |
Measuring urban 'hot spots' |
11.00 - 12.30 |
Measuring urban 'cool spots' |
12.30 - 1.00 |
Lunch at Memorial Park, Meadowbank |
| 1.00 - 2.00 | Urban heat island mitigation strategies and assessment |
| 2.00 - 2.30 | Conclusion and depart |
Students will engage in the Cool Places Cool Spaces citizen science project being developed by City of Ryde Council in partnership with Field of Mars EEC and The School of Built Environment, University of New South Wales.
This is an exciting opportunity for students to play a key role in how the City of Ryde is planning for resilient town centres and communities. To be involved in how local government and communities can mitigate and adapt to local climate change impacts.
Fieldwork preparation
The Field of Mars EEC will provide a lesson sequence to introduce students to the citizen science project, its purpose and targets and the participating organisations. They will be introduced to the concepts of the urban heat island (UHI) effect, the factors that contribute to it, the challenges and the strategies that will shape future cities and build resilience for communities and the environment (in development).
Fieldwork
On arrival students will engage in experiential activities to elicit an emotional response to the study site. Initial observations and predictions about urban heat will provide an inquiry for the day's fieldwork.
Students will be introduced to the fieldwork instruments used to monitor urban heat and the factors that contribute to the urban heat island effect. Instruments include thermometers, infrared thermometers, thermal heat cameras, anemometers, hygrometers, light metres and moisture metres. Ways of recording qualitative and quantitative data from observations will also be demonstrated.
Task 1 - Student driven inquiry
Students will use instruments and observations to measure the abiotic and biotic conditions of recognised 'hot spots' and 'cool spots'. Results will provide conclusions on the factors that contribute to and mitigate for urban heat.
Task 2 - Building the data base for urban heat
Students will measure abiotic and biotic factors in a number of locations to add to the urban heat spatial database. The locations will provide a ‘before and after’ comparison of urban renewal. Results will indicate the level of success achieved by council in meeting urban heat mitigation strategic targets.
Geography 11–12 Syllabus (2022)
Outcomes
A student:
examines places, environments and natural and human phenomena, for their characteristics, spatial patterns, interactions and changes over time GE-11-01
explains geographical opportunities and challenges, and varying perspectives and responses GE-11-03
assesses responses and management strategies, at a range of scales, for sustainability GE-11-04
analyses and synthesises relevant geographical information from a variety of sources GE-11-05
identifies geographical methods used in geographical inquiry and their relevance in the contemporary world GE-11-06
applies geographical inquiry skills and tools, including spatial technologies, fieldwork, and ethical practices, to investigate places and environments GE-11-07
applies mathematical ideas and techniques to analyse geographical data GE-11-08
communicates and applies geographical understanding, using geographical knowledge, concepts, terms and tools, in appropriate forms GE-11-09
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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