9.15am-2.00pm
Full-day program
Maximum of 2 classes
Students understand the importance of trees and forest habitats by exploring the forest, using their senses in a sensory trail and by helping the forest friends.
Students will be able to:
understand why trees and forest are special and how to care for them
understand the needs of living things and how the habitat in which plants and animals live supports this
undertake scientific inquiry through understanding, developing and using their senses
observe external features of plants and animals.
Program outline
Students are invited by a forest friend, Yura, to come and join them at their Bush Celebration at their special place (Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre). The students participate in the fun Bush Celebration activities throughout the day all the while learning about the plants, animals and place, why they are so important, and their needs.
On arrival students meet a special forest friend and learn about the day's Bush Celebration activities. Starting with the sensory activity, with and without blindfolds, and with and without shoes, students experience life using all their senses. Whilst exploring their senses they investigate what trees need to survive and what trees give to us. Students then play the 'Where's Yura?' game (Earthwalk) which leads them to explore the wonders of the natural environment, to consider whether the forest is a special place and how it can be cared for. Using their senses, students are encouraged to investigate connections between living things in the forest, identify what animals and plants need to survive, and to discover the types of homes of living things. The day concludes with the students working out ways to help trees and prevent habitat loss.