Year 1/2
The grade 1/2 program provides students the opportunity to interact with their local forest and understand the importance of forest environments. While investigating the way living things grow and change students will identify the connections among living and non-living things in a forest.
Students will learn about the features of trees and their role in meeting the needs of other living things. They will also draw their observations onto a basic map to illustrate the natural and constructed features of the site and look at the ways people engage with and look after the environment.
Curriculum Links
Science
Living things have a variety of external features. (ACSSU017)
- Use forest plant samples to observe and identify similarities and differences, and sort plants into groups.
- Use role-play to explore how trees grow and the functions of their different parts.
- Identify the parts of a tree and the role each feature plays, using visual stimulus and natural material murals.
- Identify different plant species, using the Treeflip, observing their features, such as, bark, leaves, gum nuts.
Living things live in different places where their needs are met. (ACSSU211)
- Explore the different habitats within a forest, identifying the variety of living things and the places that they live.
- Introduce the idea that forests grow and continue to change over time.
- Examine the role a tree plays in meeting the needs on other living things in the forest.
Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves. (ACSSU030)
- Explore the life cycle of a tree, within a forest. Students develop an understanding of each stage of
the life cycle. Introduce the factors that might impact a tree and stop it completing its full life cycle.
Earth’s resources are used in a variety of ways. (ACSSU032)
- Exploring the ways in which wood is used in our daily lives.
- Using samples to trace the journey from seed to final products.
HASS
The natural, managed and constructed features of places, their location, how they change and how they can be cared for. (ACHASSK031)
- Examine the way people interact with forest spaces and how they are managed.
- Observation of different vegetation types (wet and dry forests and plantations) by collecting small samples of plant species and observing abiotic characteristics.
Sort and record information and data, including location, in tables and on plans and labelled maps. (ACHASSI020 and ACHASSI036)
- Students draw features on a basic map outline as they walk around the area, identifying pathways, built features and vegetation types.
Design and Technology
Identify how people design and produce familiar products, services and environments and consider sustainability to meet personal and local community needs (ACTDEK001)
- Investigate the different ways that people use wood products.
- Explore natural and managed environments.
- Understand the way science influences sustainable forest management.
Explore how plants and animals are grown for food, clothing and shelter and how food is selected and prepared for healthy eating (ACTDEK003)
- Understand the basic needs of plants.
- Identify products designed and produced from plants.
Explore the characteristics and properties of materials and components that are used to produce designed solutions (ACTDEK004)
- Play and explore wood materials, components and tools to generate a design.
Thank you for choosing to explore the forest with a Forest Education Foundation excursion. You will find everything you need to know to plan and pack for your trip. Please ensure you have completed the Excursion Acknowledgement/Medical Information form at least 3 days PRIOR to your excursion.
- What is the purpose of your field trip? We can develop your program to suit your learning objectives and meet your curriculum needs. Please let us know anyway we can adapt the program to suit your students’ interest and learning needs.
- Please notify us about any student with special needs. We can adjust your program to ensure everyone is involved.
- Take advantage of our bus subsidy and fill your bus. Why not take two classes? The FEF has two teachers so taking two groups is not a problem, depending on the program.
- In order to make your excursion planning easier the FEF has developed a Risk Assessment Plan. This document is written by the qualified teachers of the FEF. For a copy of the risk assessment document click here.
- Bring along parent helpers. Extra assistance is always appreciated. We will get any parent helpers actively involved in the program.
- Organise your students into small groups 4-6 groups depending on the class size.
- Ensure your students are supervised at all times.
- Prepare for all-weather possibility. Ensure your student have warm clothes, comfy shoes and wet weather gear.
Have fun! The forest is an amazing place. Get involved and enjoy the adventure with your students.
The Year 1/2 program costs $150 per class. An invoice will be sent to the school following your excursion. School groups using externally hired transport may apply for a $100 bus subsidy.
Adopt A Tree
Find a tree in your schoolyard and make some observations. Give the students a few minutes to use their sense of smell, touch, hearing, and explore the space.
Guiding Questions:
- What do we know about trees?
- Do all trees look the same?
- Close your eyes and lay down, what do you hear? What do you smell?
- What do we notice about the different parts of the tree?
- What words can we use to describe our tree?
- What role might a tree play for other living things?
You might like to complete an observational drawing of your tree, sketch its leaves or take a bark rubbing.
- Imagine that you are a tree in a forest and write a story about the interesting things that happen to you and around you.
- Create a forest diorama, remembering to include all the different features of the forest.
- Think about the ways a tree helps to meet the needs of other living things in the forest.
- Explore the parts of a tree and the role they play in helping a tree survive. Access the interactive here.