education

P/K-2 Eucalypt Forest

Book Now
  • Share on:

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 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

Primary School (P/K-2) Programs

Our P-2 (or K-2 if you’re in NSW) programs have been specifically developed for this age group, and for a variety of learning abilities. Through our “Coastal Processes” excursion, students gain a basic understanding and awareness of the importance of beach ecosystems through direct interaction with the natural environment (excursions) or through an interactive PPP with a variety of items scavenged from the beach to pass around (incursions). This experience can be delivered to complement the following units or modules:

Geography

  • Year 1 Features of Places (QLD) or Places have Distinctive Features (NSW)
  • Year 1 Places and our Connections to Them (VIC)

Science

  • Prep or Kindergarten Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)
  • Year 1 Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)
  • Year 2 Biological Sciences (QLD/VIC) or Living World (NSW)

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 over mountains covered in beautiful Eucalyptus trees!
  • Learning about the rock units that make up a mountain
  • Finding fossils in mudstone and shale!
  • Tasting bush tucker
  • Biodiversity surveys
  • Serene nature sounds
  • Map-reading/comprehension
  • Identification using age-appropriate keys
  • Use of binoculars e.g. bird watching
  • Looking for additional evidence of wildlife (e.g. scratches from the claws of a monitor)!

More Information

Inclusions

Excursions

  • Guided walk through the eucalypt forest
  • Plant or animal identification activity
  • “Magic spot” quiet reflection and field sketch
  • Passing around of propagules and discussion of how they work
  • Presentation on human impacts (observable in the natural environment)

Incursion

  • An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
  • 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
11:15 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.
12:15 Lunch at destination Great areas to take a break and enjoy the scenery
13:15 Activity Session 3 Walk along a bush track to reach a lookout that stretches over an underlying valley. Students will have an opportunity to draw a field sketch at this location. There will be a great photo opportunity at the top!
14:15 Depart destination, back to school or airport
15:00 Arrive back at school or airport when required
Book Now Back to search