Enviromaths (incursion)

Teacher checklist

Start time

Your schools start time.

Each class will participate in learning activities (see over the page) which will be cycled through in a different order if there are multiple classes.

Finishing time

Your school’s finish time

(please advise the EEC prior to incursion if there are any changes required like previously booked programs, scripture etc).

Venue

The incursion will be at the school with most activities taking place within each class’s room or in the playground around the school.

Risk management advice

Please see the Enviromaths risk management plan document on the OHEEC website.

Clothing

Students will participate in activities in which school uniform is appropriate.

What to bring

Please ensure students have a copy of the student Enviromaths student worksheet. No equipment is needed from the students/school for this incursion.

Staffing

It is expected that teachers actively supervise their class throughout the day to support student learning and behaviour management.

Extreme or wet weather

If there is a need to cancel on the day, please leave a message by dialling 9247 7321 as early as possible or The Principal on 0400 230 699.

Cancellations

Cancellations need to be made within 2 weeks of the date of the fieldtrip or a cancellation fee $40.00 per class will be charged. If cancellation occurs due to inclement weather on the day, no fee will be charged. If there is a need to cancel on the day, please leave a message by dialling 9247 7321 as early as possible or The Principal on 0400 230 699.

Medical or special needs

Please advise OHEEC staff of any student with special needs when booking the incursion (e.g. disabilities, allergies).

Pre-excursion activities

Pre-visit activities carried out prior to the incursion will help students better understand their incursion content and provide links with classroom learning.

Please see Enviromaths program page on the OHEEC website for activities.

Enviromaths

Summary of Learning Activities

Please note: program is subject to change depending on number of classes other external factors such as weather.

If there is more than one class, each class group will cycle through these activities in a different order.

Timing approx

Activity

Description

9.00 – 9.15

1. Introduction to program

How sustainable is your school?

EEC teachers will recap on what sustainability means, ways to calculate school sustainability and the class ecological footprint results.

9.15 – 10.15

2. Water audit

(60 mins)

· Undertake a water audit using a tally method and analyse the results eg calculate the percentage of water efficient appliances or dripping and leaking devices as a percentage of the total.

· Conduct experiments on a dripping/leaking tap to calculate the amount of water loss over different time periods.

· Examine school water bills to calculate how water efficient the school is by calculating the total water used in a year and dividing it by the school population. Students then compare their results to Sydney Water efficiency benchmarks.

10.15 – 11.15

3. Biodiversity audit

(60 mins)

· Study the aerial photograph of the school and use a scale and overlay grid to estimate the area of school grounds that support biodiversity and express this as a percentage of total school grounds. (20 mins)

· survey school gardens for invertebrate (insect) variety and observe and record levels of bird activity in these areas as a measure of school grounds habitat quality. (40 mins)

11.15 – 11.40

Recess

11.40 – 12.40

4. Energy consumption

(60 mins)

· Examine school webgraphs (or electricity bill if no webgraphs available) and answer questions about their school’s energy use. Student will use this information to calculate average electricity consumption and compare it with DOE school averages to see how energy efficient their school is.

· Conduct a random school lighting audit using a lux meter to calculate the school’s lighting efficiency.

· Conduct a random school appliance audit to estimate the amount of appliances using energy.

12.40 – 1.40

Lunch

1.40 – 2.30

5. Waste

(60 mins)

· Conduct a waste sort to estimate the amount of of waste that is recyclable (either composted, sent to a worm farm, reused or recycled) or non recyclable.

Observatory Hill EEC – NSW Department of Education