Living World @ the Coal Loader is a Science and Technology study focusing on how the physical conditions of an environment affect the survival of living things. Students will also enquire into how the structural and behavioural features of living things support survival. A scientific investigation on a local frog species will allow students to engage with the local environment. They will assess if the physical conditions in the environment affect the growth and survival of the Striped Marsh Frog.
Program location
The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, Waverton. View the Google Excursion Map with approximate walking route, meeting location and pick up location. Please note the bus drop off and pick up point is The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability at 2 Balls Head Rd, Waverton.
Key inquiry question
How do physical conditions affect the survival of living things?
How do the structural and behavioural features of living things support survival?
Key syllabus outcomes
plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST3-1WS-S
examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-4LW-S
Skills and outcomes
Questioning and Predicting
- make and justify predictions about scientific investigations (ACSIS231, ACSIS232)
Processing and analysing data
- construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data employ appropriate technologies to represent data (ACSIS090, ACSIS107)
Planning and conducting investigations
- identify questions to investigate scientific ideas plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer problems identify potential risks in planning investigations manage resources safely (ACSIS086,ACSIS103)
Student pre-visit and follow up activities
n/a
On the day activities
During the full day fieldwork excursion, students will undertake the following activities:
Exploration walk searching for living things
Introduction to frogs and frogs life cycle, structural and behavioural adaptation,
Food web wide game,
Investigation of the wetland and an assessment if the Striped Marsh Frog live would there,
Data collection including dip netting and invertebrate tree shakes.
Cost
- North Sydney LGA schools - Free
- Other DoE Schools: $15 per student
- Non-DoE School $25 per student (GST free). Minimum cost of $600.