Forests excursions: Primary School Years 3-4 (Stage 2)
This excursion is based at Cumberland State Forest.
Outcomes
This excursion program helps students to achieve the following outcomes in the K-6 HSIE Syllabus:
- ENS2.5 Patterns of place and location - escribes places in the local area and other parts of Australia and explains their significance.
- ENS2.6 Relationships with places - describes people's interactions with environments and identifies responsible ways of interacting with environments.
It also helps students achieve the following outcomes in other KLAs:
- Science and Technology – LTS2.3, INVS2.7
- English –TS2.1, TS2.2, RS2.5, RS2.6
Subject matter
The teaching/learning activities will help students learn about the following subject matter outlined in the K-6 HSIE Syllabus:
- Geographic terminology
- Significant natural, heritage and built features in the local area, NSW and Australia, and their uses
- The location of major cities, rivers and mountains in NSW and of the capital cities in Australia
- Management and care of features, sites, places and environments
- Groups associated with places and features, including Aboriginal people
Relevant units of work
The excursion program offered at Cumberland State Forest is multi-disciplinary. There are several Stage 2 units of work that could be enhanced through the education program including:
- State and National Parks (HSIE)
- Australia: You're Standing In It (HSIE)
- Stage 2 COG (A) unit on Local Environments
- Mini-worlds (Science and Technology)
- Our Australia (Science and Technology)
Environmental Education Policy for Schools
The Environmental Education Policy for Schools is mandatory in all NSW government schools. This education program provides opportunities for students to develop knowledge, skills, values and attitudes related to the curriculum objectives in the Policy.
Teaching/learning activities
There are three main activities in the Stage 2 education program as follows:
- Ranger-guided walk –'What is important in a forest and how do we manage it?' (1 hour)
- Wildlife Detectives – How do we manage flora and fauna in forests and what clues do scientists look for? (1 hour)
- 'Potting up and Visitor Centre' - self-directed learning based in the Visitors Centre and Sensory Trail and short hands-on activity potting up plants conducted by class teacher (1 hour)
Activity 1. What is important in a forest and how do we manage it?
Take a guided walk through Cumberland State Forest and discover how forests in NSW are sustainably managed. Students will experience a native forest and see a variety of different native tree species. The habitat of the forest and its biodiversity is explored.
Students will examine:
- the activities available in a state forest;
- what resources forests provide; and
- the rules of using forests for recreation and timber production.
A comparison is made with the management values of national parks and what makes the land tenures different.
Activity 2. Wildlife Detectives
Learn how to become a forest detective using wildlife surveying techniques in the forest.
Discover animal signs, including scats, tracks, feathers, skulls and fur and these help scientists protect threatened species in the forest and enable many activities to take place in the forest.
This activity includes a short walk on the sensory trail where students undertake a quiz in small groups.
Activity 3. Visitor Centre and Potting Up
Students spend 1/2 hour in the Visitor Centre exploring the interpretive material and interactive activities to answer a series of curriculum aligned worksheet questions.
On fine days students may also explore the self-guided Sensory Trail.
Class teachers can then guide students through a short hands on activity where the students pot up their own native seedling to take home or back to school. Supplies and instructions for this activity are supplied to teachers on the day.
Cost
Bookings can be made for between 30-90 students per day. Excursions are for a full day (generally 10am-2pm) with breaks for recess and lunch. Cost is $4.40 per student and there is no charge for accompanying teachers and parents.