education

3-6 Eucalypt Forest

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

All our programs are either tailored to support relevant units within the Australian 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

 

Primary School (3-6) Programs

Our “Eucalypt Forest” programs for years 3-6 have been specifically developed for this age group, and for a variety of learning abilities. Through participation in this program, students gain a basic understanding and awareness of the importance of eucalypt forest ecosystems through direct interaction with the natural environment (excursions) or through an interactive PPP with a variety of forest items to pass around/try (incursions). This experience can be delivered to complement the following units or modules:

Geography

  • Year 3 Places are both Similar and Different (QLD) or Places are Similar and Different (NSW)
  • Year 3 Diversity and significance of places and environments (VIC)
  • Year 4 The Earth’s Environment Sustains All Life (QLD) or The Earth’s Environment (NSW)
  • Year 5 Factors that Shape the Human and Environmental Characteristics of Places (QLD) or Factors that Shape Places (NSW)
  • Year 5 Factors that shape places and influence interconnections (VIC)

Science

  • Year 3 Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)
  • Year 4 Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)
  • Year 5 Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)
  • Year 6 Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)
  • Year 3 Earth and Space Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Earth and Space (NSW)
  • Year 4 Earth and Space Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Earth and Space (NSW)
  • Year 5 Earth and Space Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Earth and Space (NSW)
  • Year 6 Earth and Space Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Earth and Space (NSW)

Cultural

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Trip Overview

Three quarters of native Australian forests are made up of Eucalyptus trees, which means there is likely to be a eucalyptus forest near you. Primary teachers choosing to undertake one of our field-based “Eucalypt Forest” excursions have the option of an ‘Experiential’ field trip (usually Grades K/P-4) or a ‘Work-booklet’ based field trip (usually grades 5-6/7). Experiential field trips are less structured than work-booklet-based field trips and allow flexibility to follow the specific interests of a group. Work-booklet-based field trips allow for a methodical and structured investigation of eucalypt forest environments. Virtual eucalypt forest investigations allow students who are unable to participate in a field trip (e.g. due to finances, proximity to habitat, behaviour issues, etc.) to gain a basic understanding of eucalypt forest environments through a well-designed in-class presentation.

Highlights

  • Bushwalking
  • Learning about the rock units that make up a mountain
  • Finding fossils in mudstone and shale!
  • Tasting bush tucker
  • Biodiversity surveys
  • Map-reading/comprehension
  • Identification using age-appropriate keys
  • Looking for evidence of wildlife (e.g. scratches from the claws of a monitor)
  • Identifying adaptations of eucalypt forest trees (e.g. for fire/reproduction)
  • Talking to a National Park Ranger

More Information

Inclusions

Excursions

  • Guided walk through eucalypt forest
  • Discussion of zoning and rock layers at a lookout
  • Plant or animal identification activity
  • “Magic spot” quiet reflection and field sketch
  • Presentation on human impacts (observable in the natural environment)
  • Field work (simple quadrat or transect studies)

Incursions

  • An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
  • Investigation of eucalypt forest adaptations using samples taken from a living ecosystem
  • Testing soil pH using samples taken from a living ecosystem
  • Bird and plant identification activities
  • Active “Food Chains and Food Webs” game
  • Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension
Educational Outcomes
  • Awareness and knowledge of eucalypt forests
  • Appreciation for the diversity of eucalypt forest organisms
  • A basic understanding of how eucalypt forest systems work including knowledge of food chains/webs and habitats
  • Awareness of the impacts of human activities on eucalypt forests both locally and globally
  • Knowledge of local and largescale environmental issues affecting eucalypt forests including habitat destruction, overharvesting, invasive species, habitat fragmentation and pollution
  • Learning of sustainable behaviours that minimise these issues
  • A sense of connection to and feeling of stewardship towards Australia’s eucalypt forests
  • An understanding of the complex processes involved in managing our eucalypt forests in a sustainable manner.
Itinerary

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

09:00 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
09:45 Arrive at destination for Activity session 1 Eucalypt forests thrive in the dry, fire-prone conditions of a windward mountain face. As such, your eucalypt forests often coexist with a landform rich in geological history. During this activity, you will examine the rock layers visible at an exposed cliff face. The guides will explain how these rocks provide a history of the local area and its past environmental conditions.
10:45 Morning tea
11:00 Activity Session 2 Students will use classification guides provided to identify trees and animals of the forest. They will explore the forest for other evidence of wildlife, including nocturnal animals. The guides will explain how all of these organisms interact in a web of feeding relationships.
12:00 Lunch at destination Great areas to take a break and enjoy the scenery
13:00 Activity Session 3 Line transects and quadrat surveys are frequently utilised by field scientists to monitor how an area changes over time. During this activity, students will be divided into groups to assess an area using techniques explained by our guides. The activity will involve taking measurements of physical factors using supplied equipment and recording results in a data collection table. This is excellent hands on experience in the field!
14:00 Visit Lookout Walk along a bush track to reach a lookout that stretches over an underlying valley. There will be a great photo opportunity at the top!
14:30 Depart destination, back to school or airport
15:00 Arrive back at school or airport when required
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