Overview
Grow and Change is a whole day program that helps students to develop an understanding of life cycles of plants and animal species. On the day of their excursion, students meet ‘Bugsy the Entomologist’ who has discovered a new species of insect. Students take on the role of ‘Entomologists in Training’ to discover more information about the life cycle of Bugsy’s insect.
Students share their prior knowledge and work in small groups to construct the life cycle of an aquatic insect found in Toohey Forest. Students then investigate a water sample to identify a range of aquatic invertebrates at different life cycle stages and discuss their common features. Using a digital microscope with live feed to a large screen TV, students view and discuss the life cycle stages of the aquatic animals they have collected, enabling them to view a variety of eggs, larvae/nymphs and adults.
Students investigate different flowering plant life cycles in Toohey Forest and view a flower dissection under the microscope. Students draw and label the parts of a flower.
Students correctly order 3D models of an insect and a plant and complete a sketch of both.
‘Bugsy the Entomologist’ returns at the end of the day so students can share their learning about life cycles of metamorphic and non-metamorphic animals.
The program concludes with students getting up close and personal with live animals such as, stick insects and lizards, with a focus on the life cycle of each animal.
Grow and Change has been assessed as medium risk. A Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment (CARA) is available on request. A student field booklet will be provided upon confirmation of your booking.
Curriculum Intent
Science understanding
- Compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals (AC9S3U01)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures:
- First Nations Australians' ways of life reflect unique ways of being, knowing and doing (A_TSIC2)