Overview
Forest Life is a whole day program immersing students in a scientific exploration of Toohey Forest. This program assists students to develop an appreciation of the importance of living and non-living things in a forest environment and how scientists classify living things.
On the day of the excursion, students meet a ‘Development Manager’ who wants to clear the forest to extend the carpark. Students take on the role of Junior Ecologists and embark on a bushwalk to identify and observe external features and habitats of plants and animals. This is achieved by collecting a variety of invertebrates using collection jars, examining insect habitats and observing characteristics of plants.
Using a large digital microscope outputting to a 60-inch screen, students view and discuss the features of their insects in detail. Students then apply their knowledge to classify insects based on their observable characteristics.
At the end of the day the ‘Development Manager’ returns and students are given the opportunity to justify the importance of living and non-living things in a forest environment by sharing their knowledge about the different groups of living things they observed in the forest.
The program concludes with students getting up close and personal with live animals and discussing their observable external features.
Forest Life has been assessed as medium risk. A Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment is available upon request. A student field booklet is provided to teachers upon confirmation of your booking.
Curriculum Intent
Science
- Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things (ACSSU044)
- Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations (ACSIS060)