Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre logo

Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre

Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre

Telephone02 9542 1951

Emailroyalnatpk-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Beneath our feet

Science and Technology - Earth and Space

Supports the Primary Connections unit - Beneath our feet

Students walk across an ancient landscape to observe evidence of weathering and erosion with a backdrop of stunning coastal views and cliffs. They participate in hands-on activities at Wattamolla and along a bushwalk on the loop track around Providential Headland and a walk to clifftops looking south over Curracurrang.

Key syllabus outcomes

A student:

  • questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations ST2-1WS-S
  • investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth’s surface ST2-10ES-S

Skills focus – working scientifically

Processing and analysing data

  • use a range of methods to represent data, including tables and column graphs
  • compare results with predictions

Communicating

  • represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings, using formal and informal representations (ACSIS060, ACSIS071)

Inquiry questions

  • How do natural processes and human actions change the Earth’s surface over time?
  • What occurs as a result of the interactions between the Earth and the Sun?

Content

How the Earth’s surface changes over time

Students:

  • investigate why the Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity, for example: (ACSSU075) SciT
    • characteristics of soils
    • identify evidence of natural changes in landforms, rocks or fossils
  • identify that scientific knowledge helps people understand the effect of their actions, for example: (ACSHE051, ACSHE062) SciT
    • investigate how erosion is caused by human activity, eg walking on bush trails
    • investigate how erosion can be minimised, eg constructing boardwalks

Earth’s relationship with the Sun

Students:

  • investigate how changes in the environment are used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to develop seasonal calendars SciT SysT

Learning Experiences

Students:

  • observe examples of erosion and weathering
  • walk on new raised boardwalks to investigate methods to minimise erosion and compare to old eroded track
  • model weathering of sandstone
  • observe preserved animals to consider their impact on erosion, including the invasive deer
  • consider Dharawal seasons and observe indicator plants on the bushwalk
  • use ochres found on the bushwalk to paint
  • listen to a Dreaming story about formation of landscape
  • use scientific equipment to measure and record conditions throughout the day, such as temperature and wind speed
  • classify rocks and minerals
  • create ephemeral art using rocks

Recommended excursion site

  • Wattamolla (loop track around Providential Headland and walk to clifftops looking south over Curracurrang)