Living Connections in Cardinia – Levels 1 & 2

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 how plants and animals have external features that perform different functions to enable their survival, with particular emphasis on blue tongue lizards!

Sensory Exploration and Treasure Hunt
This module provides a fun way for students to find plants, animals, colours and different materials, identify plants along Cardinia Creek in the nature reserve or the wetlands. Students will be guides to use all their senses to explore the world around them. By using them, they can discover a new range of treasures and superpowers!

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.

Ponding
Students are invited to become Wetland Scientists so they can investigating the life of waterbugs – aquatic invertebrates that spend some or all of their life in freshwater habitats. Waterbugs play a vital role in healthy waterways by providing food for larger animals like fish, frogs, and birds. They are also indicators of water quality, with different species having varying sensitivity to pollution – so this activity helps students identify how healthy the wetlands are and introduces them to lifecycles!

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 in Term 3, 2025. 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
Plants and animals have observable features that can be used to group them in different ways VC2S2U01
Plants and animals have basic needs, including air, water, food and shelter; the places where they live meet those needs VC2S2U02
Plants and animals have external features that perform different functions to enable their survival; in plants these features include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, bulbs, trunks and branches while different features in animals enable them to move, breathe, eat and respond to their environment VC2S2U03
Science Inquiry – Science Inquiry
Students learn that experiences can be used as a basis for posing questions to explore observed patterns and relationships, and to make predictions VC2S2I01
Sciency Equiry – Planning and Conducting
Observations are made using the senses and recorded, including informal measurements, using digital tools as appropriate VC2S2I03
Science Inquiry – Communicating
Students learn that: Observations, findings and ideas can be shared with others by using everyday and some scientific vocabulary VC2S2I06
Science Understanding – Earth and Space Science
Daily and seasonal changes in the weather and the environment can be observed and affect decisions made in everyday life VC2S2U07
Taking care of Earth’s water, land and air involves consideration of reducing, re-using and recycling materials to conserve Earth’s resources VC2S2U09
Geographical Knowledge and Understanding – Places and our connections to them
The places in which they live, why their places are important to them, the features of places, and how places can be looked after VC2HG2K01
The natural and constructed features of places, how they change and how they can be cared for VC2HG2K05
Geographical Skills – Concluding and Decision making
Draw conclusions and make proposals about places VC2HG2S04

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.