Stage 2 - The Earth’s Environment
Explore the natural environment and native wildlife of Australia through hands-on visits to The Coal Loader Sustainability Centre and Balls Head Reserve, while learning about the importance of sustainability and Aboriginal perspectives.
About this excursion
This program focuses on the Stage 2 Geography content ‘The Earth’s Environment’. Students will visit The Coal Loader Sustainability Centre at Waverton, and Balls Bead Reserve to explore the natural vegetation and native animals of a place in Australia, and examine the importance of natural vegetation and natural resources to the environment, animals and people. Students learn about the ways people value environments, including Aboriginal people, and recognise differing views on achieving sustainability.
Key Inquiry Question
- Why do people value Balls Head Reserve and how can it be protected?
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.
Visit The Earth's Environment Student Website for pre- and post-exursion learning activities.
Activities on the day
- Acquire, process and communicate geographic information to answer a fieldwork question
- Learn about past uses of the site, including those of Aboriginal people, and as a working coal loader
- Learn basic geographic tools, including map reading, line drawings, and observation
- Undertake a guided tour of the Coal Loader Sustainability Centre to learn about actions that improve sustainability
- Undertake a bushwalk in Balls Head Reserve to learn about the features and characteristics of places and environments
Important information
- North Sydney LGA schools - Free
- Government Schools: $15 per student (GST-free)
- Non-Government Schools: $30 per student (GST-free).
The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability at Waverton and Balls Head Reserve
View the Google Map with approximate walking route, meeting location and pick up location. Bus drop off and pick up is Waterhen Drive in front of the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability.
Key syllabus outcomes
- how does the environment support the lives of people and other living things?
- how do different views about the environment influence approaches to sustainability?
- examine features and characteristics of places and environments
- describe the ways people, places and environments interact
- examine differing perceptions about the management of places and environments
- acquire and communicate geographical information using geographical tools for enquiry
Integrating the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, and the Sustainability’ Cross Curriculum Priorities is a feature of the program.
Skills outcomes
- collecting and recording geographical information by observing, recording and using maps
- explaining how and why people in the past may have valued environments differently than today
- encourage literacy skills in talking and listening.
Ready to visit?
Book this fieldwork through the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability directly.
Contact us
Get in touch to ask a question, plan a visit or find out more about what we offer.
About our centre
Learn how our centre helps students explore, learn and connect with nature.