Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Human-environment interactions - Study 3: Climate change - Urban heat - A local study incursion program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Your school
Cost

2025 DoE $26 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $36 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  Local urban site 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.
Bring Writing materials, mobile device for audiovisual recording, medications, two water bottles, sunblock, hat and raincoat in a backpack. Sports uniform recommended. 
View Preparing for an excursion
Worksheet The worksheet is available for view at the time of booking.
Supporting resources

Fieldwork techniques

Fact sheets

Stage 6 Geography - urban overheating- Google site
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 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

Time

Activities

Morning session

Arrival and introduction to methodologies and fieldwork to measure urban heat

Recess

Recess and fieldwork preparation

Middle session

Measuring urban heat in your school and/or local area

Lunch

Lunch in your school

Afternoon session

Urban heat island mitigation strategies and assessment

Scale model of a built environment
Microclimate recording station

Learning activities

Students will learn about the challenges of urban heat in their local area and assess the effectiveness of people in mitigating the negative impacts of urban heat as our climate changes. 

Fieldwork preparation

Optional pre-fieldwork activities can be accessed in the Google site link below.

Stage 6 Geography - urban overheating - Google site

Arrival and introduction

Field of Mars EEC staff will introduce students to the processes that lead to the urban heat island effect. 

Students will engage with fielwork equipment used to measure urban heat including thermometers, infrared thermometers, thermal heat cameras, anemometers, hygrometers, light meters and moisture meters. Ways of recording qualitative and quantitative data from observations will also be demonstrated.  

Fieldwork

Students will go into their playground or walk to identified areas within their local area to measure abiotic and biotic microclimate data. 

Results will indicate areas of vulnerability for people and the environment and inform decisions and actions on ways people can mitigate against the effects of urban overheating. 

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We have minimal availability for term 3 and 4 2024 bookings.

Please contact us for availability.

Syllabus outcomes and content

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
Geography 11–12 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2022

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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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