After a day of creativity our campers still had the energy for some night activities. Their writing and acting talents were put to the test during a performance of Fractured Fairy Tales. Very impressive results for limited preparation time! I am trying to capture everyone on film, but some of our students are a little elusive and camera shy…
Our annual ‘Writers in the Environment’ camp has begun for its 19th consecutive year. We have a lovely bunch of students from schools across Sydney who have come to soak up some creativity, nature and writing tips from Simon French (our long time writer in residence), Danielle Chew (from Barnier Public School) and our visiting authors, Susanne Gervay, James Roy and Sue Whiting.
Students enjoyed some workshops, writing time, dipnetting and a bushwalk to the river today. Looking forward to some creativity tonight with our Fractured Fairy Tales!
Have you immersed your students in nature this year? We would love to help you with your next excursion and have a range of new and existing programs in a variety of subject areas to inspire, engage and enhance the learning of your students.
As an added bonus – all visiting teachers will receive 4hrs (BOSTES registered) field work professional learning!
Our NSW Environmental Education Centres are all staffed by trained teachers who have a passion for outdoor learning and specialist skills environmental and sustainability education.
Prices listed are for Public Schools only.
Stage 1
| Program | Syllabus | Price |
| Reptile Recon. | Science & Tech – Natural Environment: Living World | $10/student |
| Past in the Present | History – The Past in the Present | $10/student |
| Where is Nessy (Incursion) | Science & Tech – Natural Environment: Living World | Flat Day Rate – $500 (max 60 students) |
Stages 2 & 3
| Program | Syllabus | Price |
| Aboriginal Education | History – First Contacts, Community and Remembrance | $15/student (includes Aboriginal Presenter) |
| Aboriginal Education (Incursion) | History – First Contacts, Community and Remembrance | Flat Day Rate – $900 (max 90 students, includes Aboriginal Presenter) Call Brewongle for Details |
| Barefoot Lawrence | History – First Contacts, Community and Remembrance | $10/student |
| Tawny Tragedy | Science & Tech- Natural Environment: Living World / Working Scientifically | $10/student |
| PhotoVoice (Incursion) | Visual Arts & Literacy | Flat Day Rate – $500 (max 60 students) |
| Art in the Environment (Incursion) | Creative Arts & Science & Tech: Living World | Flat Day Rate – $500 (max 60 students) |
In addition to our day programs and incursions, we also have camp facilities and programs for school groups.
Please phone Brewongle on 02 45 79 1136 for further information or to have one of our staff present at your staff meeting.
Are you aware of the proposed changes to the current NSW Science and Technology K-6 syllabus?
The Board of Studies (BOSTES) is proposing to re-write the syllabus from scratch. Why is this change occurring? Will it create a major headache for you in re-programming? (as some of us have just finished programs for the last ‘new’ syllabus)
Please join me in having your say about this as the Draft directions document is now up for comment: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabuses/curriculum-development/pdf_doc/K-10-syllabus-development-for-consultation-science-technology.pdf
Complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bostesstk-6 before the end of August.
This document shows a vast change in direction from the previous syllabus and I have many questions that I hope BOSTES will answer at the next consultation meeting in Sydney. Consultation dates are via this link (many have already passed by…)
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabuses/curriculum-development/K-10.html
These are some of my first glance thoughts.
I would strongly encourage everyone to take the time to read the document, form your own opinions and comment via the survey, or attend a consultation meeting.
Hello everyone and happy term 1 for all the teachers out there knuckling down with new classes, syllabuses and paperwork! I have 2 things that may help you in 2016….
We are proud to announce the publication of our very first free iBook educational resource! Thanks to Blacktown City Council and many teachers who helped in the design of this book it is now available for download on the iBookstore.
“What happens to the rain” is a student enquiry based multi-touch book that looks at urban water management and healthy waterways. It is highly interactive with quizzes, videos, games, pop ups and embedded apps to keep students enagaged.
Designed for Stage 3 (but useful for stage 2 and 4 also!) it comes with a 10 week unit of work for the NSW Science and Technology syllabus. The unit encompasses the skill of “working technologically”. The iBook will work on an iPad, iPhone or Mac computer.
Download for free from the iBookstore https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/what-happens-to-the-rain/id1084586515?mt=11
Or find this link and all the resources on our website.
Secondly – for high schools!
Registrations are still open for the 2016 GoMAD challenge -an environmental leadership challenge for your students.This is a collaboration between Taronga Zoo, DoE, OEH and many Enviro Ed Centres to help your students Make A Difference!
Register via this link:
https://taronga.org.au/gomad-challenge-sydney
As we wind down for the school holidays – now is a good time to reflect, draw breath and organise a few things for next year (or a time for a long, long sleep in I hear you say?)
Start by reading the latest Sustainable Schools Newsletter – as always it is packed with great stuff! Eco Schools grants, Holiday shutdown ideas and interesting case studies.
Over the last few months I have had the pleasure to visit many Sydney public schools and see the results of 2015 Eco Schools grants. Such amazing work being done by staff and students. Medieval gardens, bushtucker, food gardens, kitchens, worm farms all linked to curriculum and encouraging students outdoors. Love it!
These visits were to film Class Movies that will showcase the efforts of schools and help others apply for grants next year. Check out the gallery of photos from filming days below. The Class Movies will be online early 2016.
Earthkeepers is an old world, mystical ecology program for Stage 2 students and some little munchkins from Boronia Park are now well on their way to becoming Level 1 Earthkeepers after completing our 3 day camp. We were impressed with their energy and enthusiasm and can see that they now have a broader understanding of how humans and natural systems rely on each other.
Thanks so much to our parent helpers and teachers Angie and Josh for putting in the hard yards over the three days to give the students the best possible camp!
Enjoy the photos and I hope that the students discover the final meanings of E.M. in their studies back at school.
If you would like to run Earthkeepers at your school please see the program details here.
Our annual “Writers in the Environment Camp” for year 6 writers is into its 25th year and our 2015 students are in camp and busy exercising their creative juices already. We hope to have a few ‘Eco Mystery’ stories ready to publish on this blog by Friday as our young authors try to marry technology (iPads and iBooks) with their creative writing skills.
Students are currently engaged in workshops with our Writer in Residence – Simon French. Simon has been to every one of the 25 Writers Camps and we are so grateful to him for supporting this camp and giving up his time to share his skills with the students. Danielle Chew from Barnier Public Schools is also leading the students on the path to creating an eco-mystery by Friday. We hope they are all up to the challenge!
Our day begun with some ‘get to know you games’ that allowed students from so many different schools to begin forming some friendships and bonds.
More updates to follow – so stay tuned!
One of my favourite blogs is written by an ex-lecturer of mine Ian Lunt. Last year he ran a competition of before and after ecological restoration photo’s. You can see the entries and winners here. This got me thinking on all the great sustainability and environmental projects that are happening in schools every year.
I would love to see before and after photographs or videos of any environmental projects you have happening in your school. I know there are plenty out there – especially all those schools who have participated in Climate Clever Energy Savers with us over the past years.
I have heard of school food gardens, bushland trails, bushtucker gardens, water recycling, bush regeneration, chicken pens, wetlands, bee hotels and many more in my discussions with teachers. I would love to showcase all these fantastic efforts by staff, students and parents on our website.
To enter simply send me your before and after photo’s/videos of any project that you have completed or are working on. I will then publish them and if my computer skills are up to the task we will all vote on our favourites. Please include a short description of the project. There are very few rules and entry is open to all schools and education facilities – including our Environmental and Zoo Education Centres of course!
Email your entries to: steven.body[at]det.nsw.edu.au
Be proud of the achievements of your school and help us showcase them to the world!
Brewongle Environmental Education Centre 