education

3-6 Mangroves

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Second Nature Education offers an amazing variety of educational and experiential programs to a variety of mangrove 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 “Mangroves” 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 mangrove ecosystems through direct interaction with the natural environment (excursion) or through an interactive PPP with a variety of mangrove items to pass around/try (incursion). 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)

Trip Overview

Australia has the third largest area of mangroves in the world! Primary teachers choosing to undertake one of our field-based mangrove 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 mangrove environments. Virtual mangrove 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 mangrove environments through a well-designed in-class presentation.

Highlights

  • Getting muddy!
  • Tasting salty mangrove leaves
  • Crab catching and identification
  • Sketching
  • Map-reading/comprehension
  • Biodiversity surveys
  • Identification using age-appropriate keys
  • Identifying adaptations of mangroves (roots/ salt/reproduction etc.)

More Information

Inclusions

Excursions

  • Guided walk through the mangroves
  • Mangrove tree identification activity
  • Crab and shellfish identification activities
  • “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 mangrove adaptations using samples taken from a living ecosystem
  • Passing around of propagules and discussion of how they work
  • Bird and tree identification activities
  • Active “Food Chains and Food Webs” game
  • Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension
Educational Outcomes
  • Awareness and knowledge of mangrove forests
  • Appreciation for the diversity of mangrove forest organisms
  • A basic understanding of how mangrove forest systems work including knowledge of food chains/webs, habitats and propagules.
  • Awareness of the impacts of human activities on mangrove forests both locally and globally
  • Knowledge of local and largescale environmental issues affecting mangroves 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 mangrove forests
  • An understanding of the complex processes involved in managing our mangrove forests in a sustainable manner.
Itinerary

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

8:30 Tour group pick-up 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
9:00 Arrive at destination for Activity session 1 Mangroves are highly complex and unique ecosystems that are important to the marine and intertidal environments. Mangroves perform many crucial ecological functions as well as providing economic benefits to humans. During this activity, you will learn about the many aspects that make mangroves important
10:30 Lunch at destination Great areas to take a break and enjoy the scenery
11:15 Activity session 2 There are many interesting adaptations mangrove flora possess to survive. With the help of our experienced guides, activities will take place within the mangroves to identify mangrove trees and the unique ways they cope with their environment.
12:30 Afternoon tea
12:45 Activity 3 Mangroves are home to many faunal species. Crabs and shellfish make up an important part of this biodiversity. This activity involves identifying crabs and shellfish using dichotomous keys and classification guides. You will soon come to grip their importance in the ecosystem.
13:45 Activity 4 This activity involves a biodiversity survey. Students observe and report on all living things other than the famed mangrove trees that make up the forest.
14:30 Depart destination, back to school or airport
15:00 Arrive back at school or airport when required
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