Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Nature's systems excursion program

Teacher checklist

Location

Field of Mars Reserve, 220 Pittwater Road, East Ryde

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps

Supply bus driver with Field of Mars Reserve bus information
Field of Mars Reserve risk management plan

View the YouTube track overview videos.

Buffalo Creek track

Doyle and Warada loop track

Strangers Creek loop track

Alternate location (others are available)

Buffalo Creek Reserve, 117 Pittwater Road, Hunters Hill

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps

Supply bus driver with Buffalo Creek bus information.

No bus entry into Buffalo Creek Reserve carpark.

Buffalo Creek Reserve risk management plan

View the YouTube track overview videos.

Sugarloaf Point loop track

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). 

Welfare

Participants will be bushwalking all day in rugged terrain.

Limited wheelchair accessibility.

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.

Worksheets

Student worksheets depend on your excursion's location.

Here is a sample worksheet for the Field of Mars Reserve site.

Bring

Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, wet weather gear, hat, sports uniform, sturdy shoes.

There are no shops near the study site.

View

Preparing for an excursion

Preparation and supporting resources

Fact sheets

Eucalypt Forest Digital Book for iPads and Macs

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 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

9.30 - 10.00 Introduction and recess
10.00 - 11.30 Fieldwork (two sites)
11.30 - 12.00 Break
12.00 - 1.30 Fieldwork (two sites)
1.30 - 1.50 Break
1.50 - 2.15 Conclusion and depart


Learning activities

Ecosystem investigations

Students conduct hands-on ecosystem investigation at two fieldwork sites, including in-field planning, rigorous data collection with quality instruments, processing and interpretation of the differences in biotic and abiotic data between the two fieldwork sites.

Invertebrate investigation

Students will investigate bushland invertebrates using safe collection procedures. They will then identify and classify these invertebrates to the level of phylum/class, they then observe their invertebrate's features and behaviours before inferring and communicating their structural and behavioural adaptations, interactions and local food webs.

Plant structure investigation

Students will explore the features, structures and tissues of several bushland plants and investigate how these plants are used traditionally by Aboriginal Peoples for for medicine, tools, food and shelter. Safe, engaging hands-on activities that occur in this investigation may include fire-starting, natural soaps, and insect repellant preparation.

This program works best for students who have already started, or are close to concluding, the topic areas of ecosystems, plants, adaptations and/or classification.



Syllabus outcomes and content

Science 7-10 Syllabus (2018)

Outcomes

A student:

  • relates the structure and function of living things to their classification, survival and reproduction SC4-14LW 

Content

LW1 There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity.

b. classify a variety of living things based on similarities and differences in structural features

c. use simple keys to identify a range of plants and animals

f. explain how the features of some Australian plants and animals are adaptations for survival and reproduction in their environment

Life Skills

Outcomes

A student:

  • presents science ideas, finding and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language, text types and representations (SCLS-9WS related Life Skills outcome)

Content

Students communicate by:

a. presenting ideas, findings and solutions to problems using scientific language and representation using digital technologies as appropriate

b. using appropriate text types presentations, including a discussion, explanation, exposition, procedure and recount

Science and Technology 7-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2018