Nature's systems 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	2024 DoE $25 per student - GST free 2025 DoE $26 per student - GST free 2024 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $700 2025 Non-gov school cost $36 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750
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 four school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather or fire danger.

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

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Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

address Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112

telephone 02 9816 1298

email fieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

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Nature's systems program

Teacher checklist

Suggested timetable

Time

Activities

Learning activities

Syllabus outcomes and content

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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