K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
K-6 GEOGRAPHY
EDUCATION KIT
SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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INTRODUCTION
T
he purpose of this education kit is to support
teachers in the delivery of HSIE Geography
with a focus on the Warm Temperate Rainforest at
Scenic World. The design of this education kit is set
out into Pre-visit, Visit and Post-visit activities. Each
section builds on the skills and knowledge gained
in the previous chapter. It is hoped that the activities
described in this kit are related closely enough to
syllabus outcomes so as to be relevant to teaching
practice, but also open enough that they can be used
across different Stages.
Having access to a rainforest so close to Sydney
gives us the opportunity to understand the fragile
environment from the unique perspective of being
immersed within the landscape, walking around
exploring within it. We can also learn what geological
and historical factors have contributed to creating this
unique environment. It is intended that this resource
be used in the classroom over a number of lessons to
support the learning students gain on location when
visiting the Scenic World rainforest.
The guiding staff at Scenic World have a vast array of
knowledge of the environments at Scenic World and
are a great resource to utilise during your visit.
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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CONTENTS
Rainforests: an overview........................................................................................................................................... 4
What is a rainforest?......................................................................................................................................... 4
Rainforest climate............................................................................................................................................. 4
Fire in a rainforest............................................................................................................................................. 4
Rainforests in Australia .................................................................................................................................... 5
The rainforest at Scenic World.......................................................................................................................... 5
Comprehension activity: layers of a rainforest (teacher copy)......................................................................... 6
Comprehension activity: layers of a rainforest................................................................................................. 7
Why study rainforests?.............................................................................................................................................. 8
What can we do to help protect our rainforests?............................................................................................. 8
Activities............................................................................................................................................................ 9
The rainforest at Scenic World: A Jurassic rainforest............................................................................................. 11
Why a Jurassic rainforest?.............................................................................................................................. 11
How the cliffs help the rainforest.................................................................................................................... 11
The importance of water in the rainforest....................................................................................................... 12
The impact of people on the rainforest.......................................................................................................... 12
Activities.......................................................................................................................................................... 13
The Three Sisters: a dominant feature within the landscape.................................................................................. 17
Activities.......................................................................................................................................................... 18
Excursion preparation pack.................................................................................................................................... 19
Excursion activity ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Back to School - Post excursion activities.............................................................................................................. 21
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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RAINFORESTS: AN OVERVIEW
A
rainforest is a type of forest that is dominated
by closely spaced trees, vines and shrubs with
a dense canopy that creates a darkened, enclosed
forest. Rainforests are one of the most widespread
and important types of forest in the world. Rainforests
are the most bio diverse environments on the planet
supporting 80% of the Earth’s plants, 90% of all nonhuman primates, 40% of all birds of prey and 80% of
insects.
What is a
rainforest?
Rainforest consists
primarily of trees,
which are largely
evergreen and moisture
loving, with dense crowns of
leaves, which shade large areas of the ground. They
feature several vegetation layers or storeys, with
the tallest storey reaching over 30 metres in height,
sometimes reaching up to 60 metres. The dense
canopy of a rainforest stops most direct sunlight from
reaching the understorey, creating a moist protected
environment below. The ground generally has a
light understorey of shrubs and herbs. Between the
canopy and understorey, vines and other clinging and
climbing plants often grow, hanging from the trunks
and branches of the tall trees. These varying layers
of dense vegetation provide a range of habitats for
other species. They also help to conserve water and
act as an important store of nutrients.
Rainforest climate
Ample moisture is needed for rainforest to occur.
Usually this means a fairly evenly distributed rainfall
of over 1500 mm a year, though this forest type will
grow along rivers and in sheltered gullies where the
rainfall is lower.
In the tropics, temperatures are constantly high with
a mean of about 27°C. However, rainforest extends
into temperate regions where at times snow may
fall during the winter – this is true of the rainforest at
Scenic World.
Fire in a rainforest
Rainforests are usually severely affected by fire
and may even be destroyed by high intensity fire. If
destroyed, a different type of vegetation will replace
the lost vegetation. In Australia, fire allows a eucalypt
forest to invade previous rainforest. With time, and in
the absence of further fire, the eucalypt forest will die
and revert back to rainforest.
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RAINFORESTS: AN OVERVIEW
Rainforests in Australia
The rainforest at Scenic World
Rainforests in Australia cover a very small amount of
land – just 0.5 per cent or 4.2 million hectares – and
2.6 per cent of the total area of Australia’s native
forests. Rainforest in Australia consists of three main
types:
The rainforest at Scenic World is a Warm Temperate
rainforest, nestled along the foot of the southeast
facing cliffs of the Jamison Valley within a 6.5ha
property. The waters of Katoomba Falls feed the
rainforest. The average annual rainfall of Katoomba
is 1400mm, which is just the right amount to sustain
the rainforest year round with water. The cliffs create
the perfect climate for the rainforest trees to grow in,
maintaining a sheltered environment from the harsh
winds and Katoomba winter snows.
•Monsoon rainforest, found in northern and northwestern Australia in areas which are seasonally dry
•
Tropical rainforest and subtropical rainforest,
found along the coast and ranges of northern
and eastern Australia including Queensland and
northern New South Wales
•
Temperate rainforest (including warm and cool
temperate), found mainly in New South Wales,
Victoria and Tasmania
Image : Gary P. Hayes
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COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY: LAYERS OF A RAINFOREST (TEACHER COPY)
WORD BANK:
animal • branches • canopy • covered • dense •
emergent • exposed • forest floor • grasses • light
lower • palms • plants • sunlight • shrub • short •
sunlight • understorey • walk
The emergent layer is the top layer and consists of
the tallest trees. These trees receive full sunlight but
are exposed to strong winds and high temperatures.
There are some spaces between the trees, which
allows sunlight to reach the next layer.
canopy layer is the next layer, and consists of
lower growing trees. Their leaves and branches
The
interlock to form a crown or roof for the forest.
understorey layer is not as dense, as it
receives less sunlight under the canopy. It consists
of smaller trees such as palms that struggle to grow
The
to reach the light.
shrub layer consists of shrubs and very small
trees. They are short, woody plants that have more
The
than one stem. Because the canopy and understorey
light the shrub layer can be quite
why it can be quite easy to walk
filters out so much
sparse. This is
through a rainforest.
forest floor is made up of small plants
including ferns, grasses, lichens and mosses.
They are plants that do not need a lot of sunlight.
The forest floor is also covered with a thick covering
of leaves, and mixed in with these are animal
The
droppings, decomposing plants and dead animals.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY: Draw a diagram of the layers of a rainforest. Remember to use the information in the
comprehension task to help guide your drawing.
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY: LAYERS OF A RAINFOREST
WORD BANK:
animal • branches • canopy • covered • dense •
emergent • exposed • forest floor • grasses • light
lower • palms • plants • sunlight • shrub • short •
sunlight • understorey • walk
The
layer is the top layer and
consists of the tallest trees. These trees receive full
The
layer consists of shrubs and
sunlight but are
to strong winds and
high temperatures. There are some spaces between
very small trees. They are
, woody
plants that have more than one stem. Because
the canopy and understorey filters out so much
the trees, which allows
next layer.
the shrub layer can be
quite sparse. This is why it can be quite easy to
The
to reach the
consists of
growing trees. Their
leaves and
crown or roof for the forest.
The
through a rainforest.
layer is the next layer, and
interlock to form a
layer is not as
The
is made up of small
plants including ferns,
, lichens
and mosses. They are
that
,
do not need a lot of sunlight. The forest floor is also
as it receives less
under the
canopy. It consists of smaller trees such as
with a thick covering of leaves, and
that struggle to grow to reach the light.
mixed in with these are
droppings,
decomposing plants and dead animals.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY: Draw a diagram of the layers of a rainforest. Remember to use the information in the
comprehension task to help guide your drawing.
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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WHY STUDY RAINFORESTS?
R
ainforests are one of the most bio-diverse
environments on the planet. That means there
are more living things found in rainforests than
anywhere else on the planet. Rainforests provide
some of our most popular products such as bananas,
passionfruit, cocoa (used to make chocolate),
spices, and coffee beans. There are also many plant
based products that come from the rainforest that
are used to make many medicines, including quinine
which was used to treat malaria, and hyoscine which
is used to help motion sickness and nausea after
operations. There are also plant-based products that
help humans such as camphor, insecticides, rubber,
and plant-based oils like palm oil. Finally, there are
thousands of plant species that have been developed
for their ornamental qualities such as orchids, palms,
ferns, bromeliads which have been exported all over
the world for their interesting leaves, beautiful flowers,
or unusual growth. It is because there is so many
products humans want from rainforests that the very
survival of our world’s rainforests is on the brink. It is
everybody’s responsibility to protect the rainforests
we have left.
Bananas
Harvested Cocoa Beans
Collecting Rubber Sap
Palm Oil Fruit
What can we do to help protect our
rainforests?
Being responsible for the things that go into our
gutters, drains and storm water. Water is the key
natural resource rainforests depend on to grow,
when we allow contaminated water to go down the
gutters and storm water drains it has the potential to
contaminate our rainforests. Contaminants are things
like the soap you use to wash the family car, animal
waste, or plant and grass clippings that get into the
gutters and are washed into the storm water system.
It is easy enough to stop these things getting into the
storm water system by simply changing a few small
habits such as washing the car with biodegradable
soaps on the lawn rather than on concrete driveways,
picking up after your cat or dog and putting their
waste into a garbage bin, or when gardening putting
the catcher on the lawn mower and emptying it into
the green waste bin regularly. These small actions
can help protect the quality of the water feeding our
rainforests.
Another factor that helps protect our rainforests is
to limit development in and around rainforests. This
is a difficult action to take, as a lot of the world’s
rainforests are located in poorer countries where the
lure of the money gained from the rainforests products
is greater than the desire to preserve the rainforest for
the future. An example of this is in the rainforests of
Borneo, home of the orangutan and also some of the
richest palm oil sources on the planet. The farmers
in Borneo are poor and know that harvesting the
palm oil will produce money for their survival. One of
the ways we can stop this from happening is by not
buying products with palm oil in them.
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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WHY STUDY RAINFORESTS: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1:
Research which everyday items are made from things found in rainforests
and write a list of things you use and don’t use in your home.
Things I use at home:
Things I don’t use:
ACTIVITY 2:
Select one of the things that come from the rainforests of the world, mentioned in the information about rainforests,
and present five interesting facts about your chosen product. You may choose to write a report, write a script
for a radio news item, create an information poster to go up in your classroom, create an iMovie, or present a
PowerPoint Presentation.
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WHY STUDY RAINFORESTS: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 3:
Choose one rainforest from around the world and list all the possible threats to it. In your response remember
to consider the reasons for these threats, is there a black market for products, or is the local community living in
poverty?
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ACTIVITY 4:
Choose an animal from the list below to research and present in your book. Animals
from the rainforests of the world: Anteater, Binturong, Cassowary, Civet, Green
Anaconda, Iguana, Jaguar, Lemur, Leopard, Orangutan, Piranha, Poison Dart Frog,
River Dolphin, Sloth, Spider Monkey, Tapir, Tiger, Toucan or Vampire Bat.
In your findings explain why your chosen animal lives in the rainforest, list the threats
to its survival, draw a map and show where in the world the rainforest is located
that your animal lives, what does it eat and how does it catch/collect its food, and
write a description of any interesting or identifiable features of your chosen animal.
Poison Dart Frog
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THE RAINFOREST AT SCENIC WORLD: A JURASSIC RAINFOREST
Why a Jurassic rainforest?
layers of sedimentary rock that hardens into a thick
black substance that can be burned to make energy.
The rainforest at Scenic World is often referred to as
a Jurassic forest. The reasons for the name are also
the reasons there is a rainforest at all. Jurassic refers
to the Jurassic time period in pre-history, back to the
time of the dinosaurs, over 145 million years ago. It is
during this time that the earth was undergoing great
changes, we can see the evidence of this today in the
Jamison Valley, where the Scenic World rainforest is
located.
How the cliffs help the rainforest
One of these changes is the carving out of the
sandstone cliffs surrounding the valley through a
process of water erosion and volcanic pressure
creating the mountaintops. The coal deposits in
the valley are direct evidence of the inland sea that
covered much of Australia’s east coast somewhere
between 200 million and 145 million of years ago.
Coal is the fossil remains of ancient sea creatures
and sea plants that have been trapped between two
The giant sandstone cliffs, which were carved out
millions of years ago, provide the perfect environment
for the rainforest. The direction the cliffs face is
important, this helps shield the rainforest from harsh
winds and drying afternoon sun. The rain that falls
on top of the cliffs runs down the many waterfalls
that feed the rainforest. The cliffs create the perfect
environment for the plants to grow in the rainforest by
maintaining a stable temperature, so it never gets too
hot or too cold.
The importance of water in the
rainforest
The rainforest cannot exist without a constant source
of water to feed the plants that grow in the rainforest.
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THE RAINFOREST AT SCENIC WORLD: A JURASSIC RAINFOREST
This issue is addressed by the permanently flowing
Katoomba Falls which is fed by an underground
spring that flows every day of the year. This permanent
source of water means the rainforest is never dry.
down the hill, build mining offices, build houses for
miners and to simply make space for the men to
work in the valley. By the 1890s there were up to 200
families living in the valley where the rainforest stands
today.
In the late 1920s mining activity had slowed down
and people were no longer living in the valley so the
forest had a chance to recover.
By 1945 the site was closed to mining and instead
used for tourism by the founding father of Scenic
World, Harry Hammon, going up and down the hill on
the old mining carts as a fun way to see Katoomba.
In 1948 there was a bushfire that threatened the
southern-most part of the rainforest, which meant
areas of rainforest were destroyed.
In 2000 Scenic World created and built the 2.4km
raised wooden boardwalk that winds its way through
the rainforest, often taking strange directions to
avoid the many different trees in the pathway of the
boardwalk. The boardwalk protects the plants from
the impact of many feet walking through the rainforest;
it also provides protection for people walking from
any animals they might encounter in the rainforest.
Katoomba Falls
The impact of people on the rainforest
Historically the impact of people on the rainforest has
been great.
In the 1870s mining began at such a fast rate, land
was being cleared to make way for the growing
industry. Land clearing meant many trees were cut
down to be used to create the railway going up and
The Scenic Walkway today
K - 6 HSIE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION KIT: SCENIC WORLD RAINFOREST CASE STUDY
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THE RAINFOREST AT SCENIC WORLD: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1:
Draw and design your own miners hut and label all the things you would need in it to
survive and work in the valley. Remember, these huts were one-room homes with no
running water or bathrooms. Show the front view, side views and rear view.
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THE RAINFOREST AT SCENIC WORLD: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 2:
Imagine you are a miner living in the rainforest. Write a paragraph describing the kinds of sounds, smells and
sights you encounter at day and night in the valley.
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ACTIVITY 3:
Research the differences between coal and oil shale and present your findings in a compare and contrast table.
COAL
OIL SHALE
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THE RAINFOREST AT SCENIC WORLD: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 4:
Design a method for getting the coal and oil shale out of the valley and up the cliffs.
You can draw and write or just write a description of how you would get the coal
out of the valley once you had mined it. Remember to consider the environmental
impact of your method.
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THE RAINFOREST AT SCENIC WORLD: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 5:
Other than a tourist attraction what possible uses could the Scenic World site have? List your ideas with
explanations of how and why your idea would work.
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THE THREE SISTERS: A DOMINANT FEATURE WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE
The Three Sisters - Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo
T
he Three Sisters, like Orphan Rock, are large
sandstone pillars in the environment which
formed due to water seeping into tiny cracks and
crevasses in the rocks surface over millions of years.
This effect of water on the rock caused each rock to
split apart from the other creating the three tall pillars
we see today. The shape the rocks take is based on
the shape and direction the cracks moved through the
rock millions of years ago. It is thought by geologists,
based on the evidence within the landscape, that
there could have been as many as eight sandstone
pillars standing along the peninsular that overlooks
the Jamison Valley.
On your trip to Scenic World you may notice the rides
operators and tour guides referring to the aboriginal
names of the Three Sisters. These names; Meenhi,
Wimlah and Gunnedoo; come from the Dreaming
Story of The Three Sisters from the Gundungurra
people, who are the traditional custodians of the
area we now call the Blue Mountains. These names
refer to three important female figures from the
Gundungurra Dreaming Time. It could be viewed
that the Gundungurra story of the Three Sisters is an
alternative version of how the sandstone pillars came
to be where they are today.
Orphan Rock
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THE THREE SISTERS: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1:
Imagine you are a geologist; write a description of how the sandstone pillars were formed.
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ACTIVITY 2:
Write your own story for how one of the animals that lives in the rainforest got its colour/shape/name/or size or
how Orphan Rock came to be on its own. Remember to use descriptive language and add an illustration to help
explain your story.
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EXCURSION PREPARATION PACK
The following information is to help teachers prepare
students for their excursion to Scenic World and can
be found on the website.
There is a copy of the Scenic World Risk Assessment
located on the Educators section of the Scenic World
website. Please download and read.
PREPARATION OF STUDENTS
Students must come prepared – teaching staff
should discuss the following recommendations
with students prior to the excursion day. Students
must come dressed appropriately for an outdoor
activity. Please remember, Blue Mountains weather
conditions can be very different to your local area and
change dramatically. Students should be prepared
for all scenarios. Daily weather details are available
on the Scenic World website.
• Wear closed, comfortable walking shoes;
•Bring clothing for all seasons: raingear (hooded
coat is preferable, umbrellas are difficult to
accommodate in a group), warm clothing layers,
sunhat and sunscreen.
STUDENT ANXIETY
Teachers should be aware that some students may
be anxious about riding on the Scenic Railway or
Scenic Cableway. This should be discussed with
students prior to arrival, with any concerns dealt with
appropriately.
Scenic World staff are unable to provide supervision
for students that decide they cannot travel on the
rides and adequate staffing arrangements must
occur to supervise all students. This is particularly
important for ‘Ride Only’ bookings. If this situation
does eventuate, please see Scenic World staff to
discuss alternative arrangements to keep the student
group together.
PREPARATION OF TEACHERS
It is recommended that all supervising teachers carry
a first aid kit with them, in the unlikely event of an
accident occurring within their group whilst in the
valley.
•
Bring a light backpack to carry belongings
including clipboard, worksheets, pens and pencils.
• Bring a camera.
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EXCURSION ACTIVITY
EXCURSION ACTIVITY:
Mark on the map all the features of the rainforest you observed during your guided tour, remember to create a key
that will help you recall all the things you saw when you get back to school!
3
FURBER
STAIRS
N
LILLIPILLI
LINK
YELLOW
NK
ROBIN LI
Key:
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BACK TO SCHOOL - POST EXCURSION ACTIVITIES
These tasks are designed to extend the experience of students after going on an excursion to Scenic World. Each
task assumes that students participated in a guided tour of the rainforest at Scenic World.
ACTIVITY 1:
Using the maps created on the excursion students will select one of the trees from their map to research. Write
a description of the bark of the tree, a description of the leaves that grow on it, how long on average they live for,
what is the average height they grow to, in what part of the rainforest did you find this tree?
Examples include: Lillipilli, Rough-trunk tree-fern, Five Leaf Water Vine, Turpentine, Cedar Wattle, Ribbon Gum,
Coachwood, Smooth-barked Apple Gum.
ACTIVITY 2:
Create a poster for one of the animals that lives it the rainforest from the list below. In your poster explain the kind
of place they nest or burrow, what foods they eat, when they breed, what part of the day or night are they most
active, write a description of what they look like, their average lifespan, what noise (if any) do they make, and
whether or not they live in groups or alone?
Animals include: Tawny-frogmouth, Lyre Bird, Crimson Rosella, Wonga Pigeon, Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo, Lewin’s
Honeyeater, Blue Mountains Tree-frog, Sugar Glider, and Quoll.
ACTIVITY 3:
Write all the facts and points of interest you can remember from your visit to Scenic World. Share your memories
with the person next to you and then use that information to create a poster promoting the sights and main
features of the rainforest at Scenic World.
ACTIVITY 4:
Write a description of the rainforest for someone who has never been there before; remember to use lots of
descriptive language to really paint the image of the environment for your reader. You might even want to explain
how you got into the rainforest and how you got out too.
ACTIVITY 5:
In groups of two present a debate arguing both sides of the topic “Scenic World should look after the rainforest”.
ACTIVITY 6:
Rubbish is a problem in the rainforest, what strategies could Scenic World use to address this issue?
GROUP ACTIVITY 7:
Based on the research you have done in activities 1 and 2 create a class mural that features the tree and animal
you researched. Each student will paint a tree and collage an animal to place onto the mural.
GROUP ACTIVITY 8:
As a class or in smaller groups write and act out plays based on the myths students wrote during the lesson about
the story of the Three Sisters. These plays could be performed in class or at a school assembly to demonstrate
student learning.
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