Living Connections in Cardinia

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This 3 hour program links to the biological science of living things showing how all living things are connected. Children learn how plants and animals change as they grow and discover what features help them succeed in our amazing world. It’s filled with interactive activities which engage and inspire young learners to want to learn more about the incredible world we live in.  Modules include:

Habitat Exploration and Connections
Students investigate the various habitats available along Cardinia Creek in the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve and the adjacent wetlands uncovering the plants and animals present including weeds.  We discuss what makes a weed and how to manage them, and what happens to our nature reserves and parklands if we don’t!  We also investigate what plants and animals need to survive and how they are all connected.  

Life Cycles and Habitats 
This module inspects the various stages of the life cycles of plants and animals and what they need to survive.  We will specifically look at the lifecycle of a frog and explore the various habitats of frogs in the reserve and nearby wetlands and the role they play. We introduce the concept of metamorphosis.

Treasure Hunt
This module provides a fun way for students to identify plants (including weeds) and animals along Cardinia Creek, at the wetlands and in the nature reserve. Students will also use their senses and observation skills to explore the world around them.

Water Connections
Students discover how different inland waterways connect to each other and in turn, the ocean. They learn the different features of wetlands, creeks and rivers at the different stages of their existence and develop a greater understanding of how a range of human activities, both terrestrial and water based can impact the water courses and the ocean.

This program ends with a Call to Action
Students will lead a discussion about how Living Connections are affected and/or disrupted by human activities and derive actions they can adopt to minimise their impact on the environment.

Certificate and Conservation Code to reinforce learnings
Post event, schools will be issued a Certificate of Participation and Conservation Code for each class which students are encouraged to sign and hang in the classroom as a reminder of their learnings and their commitment to protect the environment. Teachers will also receive a range of free resources and activities so you can continue the learning/lessons in the classroom.

INCLUSIONS, NOTES, TERMS and CONDITIONS

Programs are open to schools located in and around Cardinia Creek. Sessions offered are subject to availability and budget. Each group must not exceed 30 students. You can book as many students from your school as you like, however, all excursions must be delivered by Friday, June 27. Transport can be arranged if required, however it is hoped that most schools can manage their own to allow maximum student participation from across the region. Where possible, please provide a minimum of 4 weeks notice.

Equipment supplied by Gould League: Workbooks/Worksheets along with all tools and equipment required for activities including fieldwork data collection provided.

Equipment needed by the school: First aid kit, insect repellant, sun screen and PPE including hand sanitiser to kill viruses, bacteria and other micro organisations. 

Students needs to bring: Their own snacks, water and lunch, sunscreen, a clipboard, pencil, and a copy of the Gould League worksheet/workbook (usually sent 14 days prior to excursion so copies can be made for students) to guide the forest investigation; bag to take away your rubbish.

Restrictions/Limitations: This Gould League program does not operate on days with a Fire danger rating of Extreme or Catastrophic. On rare occasions, programs may be postponed due to extreme weather predictions involving wind/storms. In both cases, these programs will be rescheduled at the earliest convenience of both parties.

CURRICULUM LINKS

Science Understanding – Biological Science
Living things have a variety of external features and live indifferent places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter are met (VCSSU042)
Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (VCSSU043)
Science Understanding – Earth and Space Science
Observable changes occur in the sky and landscape; daily and seasons changes affect everyday life (VCSSU046)
Science Enquiry Skills – Planning and conducting
Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)
Science Enquiry Skills -Recording and processing
Use informal measurements in the collection and recording of observations(VCSIS052)
Geographical Concepts & Skills / Data & Information
Collect and record geographical data and information from the field and other sources (VCGGC060)
Geographical Knowledge – Places and our connections to them
Natural, managed and constructed features of places, their location and how they change (VCGGK068)
Reasons why some places are special and some places are important to people and how they can be looked after (VCGGK069)

The Victorian Curriculum F-10 content elements are © VCAA, reproduced by permission. Victorian Curriculum F-10 elements accurate at time of publication. The VCAA does not endorse or make any warranties regarding this resource. The Victorian Curriculum  F-10 and related content can be accessed directly at the VCAA website.