Watch it Grow! at Field of Mars - Stage 1
Teacher checklist
Location – Field of Mars Reserve, western side of Pittwater Road, East Ryde.
Bus access - give information to driver. No bus entry into Field of Mars Reserve.
Cost - $16.00 per student, no GST. Confirm numbers 2 weeks before excursion. Invoice will be based on confirmation.
Bring - medications, food, water, sunblock, hat, wet weather gear. Packed in a small backpack - only essential items.
Wear - sports uniform recommended. Hats and sturdy closed shoes essential for students, staff and parents.
Staffing - NSW DEC suggests a student/adult ratio of 15:1 for bushwalking. Parent helpers welcome, no preschoolers.
Name tags - reusable and pinned on.
School to provide – tote trays or similar for carrying clay invertebrate models to school.
Extreme or wet weather - may result in the excursion being modified, postponed or cancelled. Includes days
predicted to be above 35 C, high winds, extreme bush fire danger and dust storms. If the forecast deteriorates
overnight then contact the centre on 98161298 or 0418118697 or 0438842343.
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Cancellations - less than two weeks notice $100. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather.
Medical or special needs - please notify Field of Mars EEC staff.
Field of Mars EEC is bin free. Students and teachers are encouraged to use ‘nude food’ containers. All waste
contributing to landfill will be returned with you to your school.
Timetable – start and finish times are indicative only. When booking, please inform us of your arrival and departure
times. The timetable may be adjusted according to your arrival and departure time and weather conditions.
Activity
Bushwalk
9.45 – 10.15
10.15 – 11.45
Invertebrate Hunt
Build a Bug
Introduction and fruit snack (Fruito/Crunch & Sip)
Class 1 + Class 2 + Class 3
11.45 – 12.00
Recess – bin free – rubbish to be taken home. Fruit scraps will be collected for worm farm.
12.00 – 12.45
Group1
12.45 – 1.15
Lunch – bin free – rubbish to be taken home. Fruit scraps will be collected for worm farm.
1.15 – 2.00
Group 2
2.00 – 2.15
Conclusion and depart
Group 2
Group 1
Learning Activities
Bushwalk
The focus of the bushwalk is for students to observe the different stages plants and animals go through as they grow
and change. The bushwalk will traverse a variety of environments, from the moist vegetation found along the creeks to
the dry woodland along the slopes of the reserve. Some plants and animals will only be found in one or two life stages
so visual props will be used so students can fill in the gaps and spot the differences.
The growth and change of living things in the bush will be emphasised. Students will undertake a variety of sensory
activities and be encouraged to make their own observations.
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Invertebrate Hunt
The focus of this session is for students to work cooperatively to conduct an investigation, using simple equipment, to
explore and answer the question: What invertebrates live in the garden?
Students will work in small groups to search for and collect leaf litter invertebrates in the gardens surrounding the
education centre. Collected specimens will then be examined using personal magnifiers and identified using ID charts.
Some of the collected invertebrates will be magnified onto the IWB and their life stage and features explained to the
students. Students will then have the opportunity to use the IWB to place images of the invertebrates they’ve found in
their various life stages.
Build a Bug. (Show it grow.)
The focus of this session for students to observe and describe the how the external features of leaf insects grow and
change. The session will be introduced with leaf insects from the centre’s collection, and their various life stages
shown and explained.
Students will then chose a stage of growth of a leaf insect and work individually to create it from pipe cleaners and
found materials. Two or more stages can be created if time permits.
School Provides - tote trays or similar for carrying leaf insect models back to school.
Supporting Resources
Invertebrate websites - http://fieldofmarseec.nsw.edu.au/resources/general/
Field of Mars Multitouch Books – https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/phasmids/id712107565?mt=13
Field of Mars iTunes U Course - https://itunes.apple.com/au/course/investigating-invertebrates/id725296002
Field of Mars Video Conferences - http://fieldofmarseec.nsw.edu.au/connected-learning/connected-classroomlessons/
Syllabus Links
Environmental Education Objectives
Students will develop:
knowledge and understandings about:
 the nature and function of ecosystems and how they are interrelated (K1)
skills in:
 adopting behaviours and practices that protect the environment (S5)
values and attitudes relating to:
 a respect for life on Earth (V1)
 a commitment to act for the environment by supporting long term solutions to environmental problems. (V3)
Science K-10 Outcomes
Science K-10 Content
A student:
Students conduct investigations by:
ST1-4WS investigates questions and
predictions by collecting and recording data,
sharing and reflecting on their experience and
comparing what they and others know
 Using a range of methods to gather data and /or information,
including using their senses to make observations safely and
carefully, using simple tools and equipment
ST1-10LW describes external features, changes
in and growth of living things
 Describe some external features of a variety of living things,
including plants and animals
 Use a range of methods, including fieldwork, to identify plants or
animals in their local area
Living things have a variety of external features. (ACSSU017)
Living grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves.
(ACSSU017)
 Observe and record some of the changes a common plant or
animal shows during its life, using an appropriate digital
technology
 Compare the appearance of adult living things with their
offspring
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