Wet and Dry Environments
Stage 1
Outline
National Parks provide an excellent opportunity for students to explore life in both wet and dry
environments and to focus on peopleʼs interactions with, and responsibility towards, these environments.
The day centres around a bushwalk through the National Park where the students will be examining
features of both wet and dry environments, investigating some of the animals and plants that live in each
and discussing the human impacts at a variety of sites.
Key Syllabus Outcomes
HSIE
ENS1.5. "
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ENS1.6. "
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Compares and contrasts natural and built features in
their local area and the ways in which people "
interact with these features.
Demonstrates an understanding of the relationship
between environments and people.
Science and Technology
INVS1.7" Conducts guided investigations by observing, "
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questioning, predicting, collecting and recording
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data and suggesting possible explanations
Learning Experiences
During the bushwalk, students will visit a variety of different wet and dry environments, including dry
bushland, a lagoon area and a river/mangrove environment.
Minibeast Hunt
Students carefully collect and examine mini-beasts (invertebrates) in the dry Eucalypt leaf litter. Using an
identification chart, the students record what they have found on their worksheet.
Mini-beast Dip Net
Using dip nets, the students carefully collect animals from the pond. Using identification charts, students
record what they have found on their worksheet and how these animals may change over during their
lifecycle. There is also a discussion on the features of the animals found, and how they are suited to living
in water.
Mangrove Exploration
At the end of the day, the students will have an opportunity to look in the mangrove area at Bobbin Head.
In this part, students will observe the mangroves and crabs and discuss ways they survive in a salty and
muddy environment. This is also an ideal opportunity to look at how the mangroves have been been
impacted by humans from use by Aboriginal people in the past to the present day.