education

Senior Rocky Shores Program

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Second Nature Education offers an amazing variety of educational and experiential programs to a variety of rocky shore locations in: Queensland and New South Wales; throughout Australia; and overseas.

All our programs are either tailored to support relevant units within the new curriculum, or as specifically requested by our clients.

What we provide

  • Award-winning educators/ facilitators
  • Itineraries and Flyers
  • Curriculum-based work-booklets
  • All relevant equipment (supplying up to 150x students per session)
  • Example assessment tasks
  • Transportation options (we provide quotes to utilise our own buses for every excursion and can purchase all relevant flights relating to your program where applicable)
  • Pre/Post Excursion Activities (usually a PPP)
  • Risk Assessment (location specific)
  • Variety of field-work locations (where available)
  • Accommodation options (we provide quotes to utilise the most affordable and most appropriate accommodation to suit your needs)
  • Catering options (we provide quotes to utilise our own in-house catering service for every excursion (where available) and/or catering through a third-party provider

Senior School (Yr 11-12) Programs

Our “Rocky Shores” programs for years 11-12 have been specifically developed for units of study in Geography, Biology and Marine Science, as well as Earth and Environmental Science. Each can however be tailored to a school’s needs. The programs are great fun and involve the exploration of a natural environment (excursions), or an exciting interactive PPP with classroom activities (incursions). A detailed understanding and awareness of the importance of rocky shore ecosystems and a new-found appreciation for this amazing habitat are key outcomes. These programs are delivered by passionate facilitators with specialist knowledge on rocky shores. The experiences can be delivered to complement the following units or modules:

Geography

  • Year 11 Biophysical Interactions (NSW)
  • Year 12 Ecosystems at Risk (NSW)

Biology

  • Year 11 Biodiversity and the Interconnectedness of Life (QLD) or Biological Diversity (NSW)
  • Year 11 Maintaining the Internal Environment (QLD)
  • Year 11 How do Living Things Stay Alive? (VIC)
  • Year 11 Ecosystem Dynamics (NSW)

Earth and Environmental Education

  • Year 11 Living on Earth (QLD)
  • Year 11 Earth’s Resources (NSW) or Human Impacts (NSW)
  • Year 12 How can Biodiversity and Development be Sustained? (VIC)

Marine Science (QLD)

  • Year 11/12 Marine Biology
  • Year 11/12 Oceanography
  • Year 11/12 Conservation and Sustainability
  • Year 11/12 Marine Research Skills

Trip Overview

On this adventure, you will learn about the importance of rocky shore ecosystems and the unique abilities of inhabiting organisms to withstand long periods of heat and exposure. You will also use a variety of fieldwork techniques to investigate the diversity of a rocky shore ecosystem. If you are seeking a different approach to your “Rocky Shores” study, we can design a program that is suitable for you.

Highlights

  • Climbing along the rocks at the beach
  • Peeking into rock pools
  • Sketching
  • Map-reading/comprehension
  • Biodiversity surveys
  • Identification using age-appropriate keys
  • Scientific equipment use (anemometers/barometers/thermometers etc.)
  • Use of magnifying glasses e.g. to observe patterns and ridges on shellfish
  • Identifying adaptations of rocky shores (salinity/exposure/predation etc.)
  • Talking to a National Park Ranger!

More Information

Inclusions

Excursions

  • Guided walk along the rocky shore looking at zonation
  • Crab and shellfish identification activity
  • “Magic spot” quiet reflection and field sketch
  • Discussion of adaptations for living in such a harsh environment
  • Field work (quadrat or transect studies)

Incursions

  • An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
  • Investigation of rocky shore adaptations using samples taken from a living ecosystem
  • Virtual rockpool exploration and biodiversity quadrat (optional)
  • Crab and shellfish identification activity
  • Active “Food Chains and Food Webs” game
  • Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension
Educational Outcomes
  • Awareness and knowledge of rocky shores
  • Appreciation for the diversity of rocky shore organisms
  • A basic understanding of how rocky shore systems work including knowledge of food chains/webs and habitats
  • Awareness of the impacts of human activities on rocky shores both locally and globally
  • Knowledge of local and largescale environmental issues affecting rocky shores including global warming, invasive species and pollution
  • Learning of sustainable behaviours that minimise these issues
  • A sense of connection to and feeling of stewardship towards Australia’s rocky shores
  • An understanding of the complex processes involved in managing our rocky shores in a sustainable manner.
Itinerary

Below is an example itinerary for a 1-day “Rocky Shores” excursion. All excursion packages include the necessary work booklets and equipment.

08:30 Tour group pick- Second Nature have a fleet of vehicles available to cater for any number of passengers (within reason). We can provide transport to and from schools and airports
09:30 Arrive at destination.  Walk to study site
09:45 Activity Session 1 Rocky shores have distinctive zonation patterns. That is to say, different colonies of shellfish and crustaceans can be found at varying distances from the shoreline depending on their tolerance for physical factors such as salinity, light intensity, temperature, etc. During this activity, your guides will walk you through the three distinct zones on the rocky shore and assist you to identify animals at each stop.
10:45 Activity Session 2 Rocky shores provide critical habitat for highly specialized animals. They are also an important food source for migrating shore birds. During this activity, you will learn about the importance of the rocky shore ecosystem and will take note of any human impacts directly visible (or not) in the immediate environment. During this time, you will also complete a field sketch of the rocky shore and beach beyond.
11:45 Lunch at destination Great areas to take a break and enjoy the view!
12:15 Activity Session 3 Students will conduct a line transect and quadrat investigation at the first zone identified in Activity Session 1 (Zone 1). They will later compare the data collected with similar measurements taken at Zones 2 and 3. The quadrat investigation will allow them to calculate species richness and Simpson’s Biodiversity Index in class at a later date.
13:00 Activity Session 4 Another line transect and quadrat investigation at Zone 2.
13:45 Activity Session 5 Another line transect and quadrat investigation at Zone 3.
14:30 Walk back to bus from study site
14:45 Depart destination, back to school or airport
15:30 Arrive back at school or airport when required
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