education

3-6 Forest to Farm

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Second Nature Education offers an amazing variety of educational and experiential programs moving from rainforest to adjacent farmland 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
  • 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

Our “Forest to Farm” programs for years 3-6 have been specifically developed for this age group, and for a variety of learning abilities. Through participation in our “Forest to Farm” excursion, students gain a basic understanding of how humans have altered natural environments to create a monoculture conducive to crops and grazing.  What we offer is a guided expedition from rainforest to nearby farmland (excursion). 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 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)

Trip Overview

As our population increases, so too does demand for housing and related infrastructure. To make space for these new developments, important forest biomes are often cut away. Our “Forest to Farm” excursion explores the effects of this largescale environmental change on local ecology. Primary teachers 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, whereas work-booklet-based field trips allow for a methodical and structured investigation of land cover transformations in Australia.

Highlights

  • Bushwalking through amazing sub-tropical or tropical rainforest!
  • Speaking with National Park rangers
  • Awesome farm tour with commentary
  • Speaking to 4th or 5th generation farmers with specialized knowledge on local history
  • Tasting local produce!
  • Using spatial data to investigate largescale environmental change
  • Sketching
  • Simple field work comparing forest and farm sites

More Information

Inclusions
  • Guided walk through a rainforest ecosystem with discussions of bush tucker, timber and other natural resources.
  • Visit sections of rainforest that have been disturbed by natural processes (e.g. storm damage)
  • Drive with commentary along a mountain ridge, where the transition between forest and farm is clearly visible.
  • Tour of 1-2 family farm/s. Students will have the opportunity to interview a farmer whose family has watched the land be developed around them for decades.
  • Field sketch of study site (view of a farming region and surrounding rainforest)
Educational Outcomes
  • Awareness of how humans have reshaped a natural environment to create a built environment
  • Assessment of the difference in biodiversity and other measures of ecosystem health between an undisturbed biome and a biome that has been modified to support crop growth or grazing.
  • Knowledge of environmental issues that have arisen as a result of farming practices including pollution, introduction of invasive species, death of pollinator species, erosion and loss of biodiversity
  • Learning of sustainable farming practices that can be used to minimise these issues
  • An understanding of environmental management principles that should be considered when clear cutting forest for development
  • A connection to and sense of stewardship towards Australia’s natural environment
Itinerary

Below is an example itinerary for a 1-day “Forest to Farm” excursion. All excursions 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 Rainforest Site for Activity Session 1 This activity will take the form of a guided walk through the rainforest. First, students will cross through an undisturbed section of rainforest. They will then proceed to a section disturbed by a natural hazard (for example, a cyclone). Students will record observations to compare sites and morning tea will be enjoyed on the walk.
12:00 Lunch at Rainforest Site Great areas to relax and enjoy the scenery!
12:30 Activity Session 2 Interview with a National Park ranger and a representative of the local Indigenous people. These interviewees will give fascinating insights into the use of natural resources from the rainforest in the past and in the present.
13:15 Depart Rainforest Site for a Lookout
13:45 Arrive at the Lookout for Activity Session 3 Presentation on the geography of the local region. During this activity, your guides will explain how natural processes such as volcanism and the water cycle have contributed to the unique geography of the region, making it ideal for both rainforest and farmland. A field sketch where both rainforest and farm sites are visible will be possible at this location.
14:15 Depart Lookout for Farm Site
14:30 Arrive at Farm Site for Activity Session 4 Interview with a farmer. Many farmers represent the fourth of fifth generation to work the land on which they are situated. This means their family has witnessed decades of changes within the same region of rainforest and farmland. These presenters have specialised knowledge on the local history and can skilfully recount a timeline of land cover transformations for the students.
15:30 Depart Farm Site, back to School or Airport
16:30 Return School or Airport at desired time

 

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