Stage 2 - Caring for Australia's Environments - Balls Head
Students explore environmental care and sustainability at Balls Head through hands-on fieldwork and Aboriginal cultural practices in this engaging Stage 2 Geography site study.
About this excursion
The Balls Head site study invites Stage 2 students to explore how people care for and sustain Australia’s natural environments. Through outdoor fieldwork, including bushwalks and hands-on activities, students observe local ecosystems, investigate environmental management practices, and learn about waste minimisation. The program also incorporates Aboriginal food practices, deepening students’ understanding of cultural connections to the land.
By comparing conservation and sustainability efforts, students develop key geographical skills such as observation, data collection, and analysis. This site study fosters students’ awareness of their role in protecting the environment and encourages active participation in caring for Australia’s diverse landscapes.
Key Inquiry Questions
- How do people manage and protect the environment at Balls Head?
- What can we learn from Aboriginal food practices about caring for the land?
Student pre-visit and follow-up activities
Successful excursions have direct links to current classroom learning. Pre-visit activities carried out before the excursion will help students better understand the excursion content and provide a sense of connectedness and relevance to classroom learning.
View the extensive excursion Support Website for information and activities to enhance students' understanding of the excursion content. Students can complete these activities either pre- or post-excursion. Teachers can download a student history journal from the website to further engage students.
Activities on the day
- Guided bushwalk to explore the natural environment and observe local plants and animals
- Investigation of waste minimisation and recycling practices at the site
- Learning about Aboriginal food practices and their connection to the land
- Hands-on activities focused on environmental conservation and sustainability
- Collecting and recording observations to develop geographical enquiry skills
Important information
- Government Schools: $15 per student (GST-free)
- Non-Government Schools: $30 per student (GST-free).
Balls Head Reserve, Waverton, Sydney.
View the Google Map with approximate walking route, meeting location and pick up location.
Key Syllabus Outcomes:
- GE2-1: Describes features of places and the connections people have with places.
- GE2-2: Explains how people, places, and environments interact.
- GE2-3: Collects and records geographical data and information.
- GE2-4: Presents geographical information.
Key Syllabus Content:
- Features of places and environments (natural features, cultural and constructed features)
- Ways people interact with places and environments to meet their needs and wants
- How people care for places and environments, including conservation and sustainability practices
- Fieldwork techniques: observing, questioning, recording, and reporting
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledge and practices related to caring for Country/Place
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