Shelters 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 – nil.
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 – 10.00
10.00 – 11.35
Making Shelters
Invertebrate Hunt
Introduction and fruit snack (Fruito/Crunch & Sip)
Class 1 + Class 2 + Class 3
11.30 – 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 places where living things can be found and the needs of
plants and animals in the natural environment through a variety of sensory activities.
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. Along the way the students will see examples of animal shelters. Natural
resources used by traditional Aboriginal people for shelters will also be shown. Because of the nature of the Australian
bush, special emphasis will be made on looking for evidence of animals that live in the area including nests, mounds,
hollows, holes and webs.
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Invertebrate Hunt
The focus of this session is to work cooperatively to investigate invertebrate habitats and observe the invertebrates
that live there.
Students will work in small groups to search for and collect leaf litter invertebrates in the gardens surrounding the
education centre. Collected specimens will be observed and identified using ID charts. Students will also work in small
groups to undertake tree shakes that dislodge invertebrates from the foliage of shrubs for collection. They collect them
into bug jars for close observation and identification. If time, some of the collected invertebrates will be magnified and
projected onto the TV or IWB and features and adaptations explained to the students.
Making Shelters
The focus of this session is for students to work cooperatively to construct a mini shelter using natural materials.
The students will then be shown images of traditional Aboriginal shelters and construction methods and materials will
be emphasised. Working in small groups, students collect and use bush materials to construct a small model of a
shelter. When complete, the students tour each other’s shelters, describing any problems they encountered while
building and how their shelters could be improved.
Supporting Resources
Biodiversity 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 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)
HSIE K-6 Syllabus Outcomes
HSIE K-6 Syllabus Content
ENS1.5 Compares and contrasts natural and
built features in their local area and the ways in
which people interact with these features.
Environments Strand
ENS1.6 Demonstrates an understanding of the
relationship between environments and people.
 adaptations to environments to fulfill needs
 changes to the immediate environment as a result of meeting
needs and wants
 personal and shared values and responsibilities towards
features, sites, places and environments
Science K-10 Outcomes
Science K-10 Content
A student:
Students generate and develop ideas 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
 Exploring different materials by observing and manipulating them
and using trial-and-error
ST 1-5WT uses a structured design process,
everyday tools, materials, equipment and
techniques to produce solutions that respond to
identified needs and wants
ST1-11LW describes ways that different places
in the environment provide for the needs of
living things
Students produce solutions by:
 Using a range of everyday tools, equipment, materials and
techniques
Living things live in different places where their needs are met.
(ACSSU211)
 Observe the different places in a local land or aquatic
environment where living things can be found, eg a
schoolyards, pond, beach or bush
 Explore the needs of a plant or animal in its environment.
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