Stage 5
Students will investigate a wetland ecosystem and factors that affect plant and animal life, how these can be managed.
Fieldwork activities:
- Pond animal identification, distribution and adaptations
- Species classification, construct a food web and analyse how changes in some biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem affect populations and /or communities.
- Water quality testing
- GPS Wetland plant hunt
For further information on curriculum links, program and excursion information see below or contact us.
Further Information
Location
Awabakal Environmental Education Centre- Wetlands Campus, 412 Sandgate Road, Shortland.
Syllabus outcomes and content
Stage 5 Science outcomes
A student:
- analyses interactions between components and processes within biological systems SC5-14LW
- appreciates the importance of science in their lives and the role of scientific inquiry in increasing understanding of the world around them SC5-1VA
- shows a willingness to engage in finding solutions to science-related personal, social and global issues, including shaping sustainable futures SC5-2VA
- undertakes first-hand investigations to collect valid and reliable data and information, individually and collaboratively SC5-6WS
- processes, analyses and evaluates data from first-hand investigations and secondary sources to develop evidence-based arguments and conclusions SC5-7WS
Content
Living world
LW2- Conserving and maintaining the quality and sustainability of the environment requires scientific understanding of interactions within, the cycling of matter and the flow of energy through ecosystems.
Students:
a. recall that ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment
c. describe how energy flows through ecosystems, including input and output through food webs
d. analyse how changes in some biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem affect populations and/or communities
e. assess ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' cultural practices and knowledge of the environment contribute to the conservation and management of sustainable ecosystems
f. evaluate some examples in ecosystems, of strategies used to balance conserving, protecting and maintaining the quality and sustainability of the environment with human activities and needs
WS6- Students conduct investigations by:
a. individually and collaboratively using appropriate investigation methods, including fieldwork and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data
d. using appropriate units for measuring physical quantities
WS 7.1- Students process data by:
b. selecting and extracting information from tables, flow diagrams, other texts, audiovisual resources and graphs, including histograms and column, sector or line graphs
Learning across the curriculum
Sustainability
Civics and citizenship
Information and communication technology capability
Numeracy
Bus information
Drop off and collection Awabakal Environmental Education Centre (AEEC), Wetlands Campus located at Hunter Wetlands Centre, 412 Sandgate Rd, Shortland, Newcastle.
Please use School entry.
What to bring
Printed workbook, clipboard and pencil.
Students should bring lunch, recess, refillable water bottle, hats, sunscreen, covered walking shoes plus any special requirements of the group (Wet weather gear when necessary). Non-aerosol insect repellent is advisable in summer.
Sample timetable
Introduction - 10:00 am
Recess - 10:20 am
Two learning activities - 10:30am
Lunch - 12:00pm
Two learning activties - 12:30pm
Finish- 2:00pm
Students will have morning tea and lunch on the grounds of the AEEC. This timetable is only a guide and may be adjusted.
Supervision
AEEC is a NSW Department of Education school and staff are trained DoE teachers specialising in Environmental Education.
AEEC teachers rely on the participation of visiting teachers to meet recommended supervision levels. Visiting teachers are ultimately responsible for behaviour of students, students with existing medical conditions or special needs.
Medical or special needs
Please notify Awabakal Environmental Education Centre of any medical conditions or special needs that may need to be taken into consideration when planning or delivering the program. Upon booking an excursion, a form will be emailed to complete to detail any medical or special needs.
Parent / carer helpers
As our staff are Department of Education teachers we don’t require parent helpers on the day. If your school decides to bring parents, we kindly ask that you keep the number to a minimum. For safety reasons and the nature of our sites, parents will not be able to participate in activities.
Extreme or wet weather
Extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall, high winds and extreme bush fire danger may result in the excursion being modified, postponed or cancelled. If you have any concerns regarding the weather prior to the excursion, contact Awabakal Environmental Education Centre on 4955 8673 or email awabakal-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au.
Cancellations
Cancellations less than three school weeks notice may incur an administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather or fire danger.
Bookings
For bookings click here.