Student Activities
Trial Activities
In Term 4, 2022, a range of trial activities were run for the Balmain Foreshore Project, following the end of formal assessment tasks for Year 10 in Term 4. This time period was chosen for the trial activities because it is a low risk, low stakes period, and enabled teachers to experiment without impacting on report results, exams, etc. The activities included individual, hands on activities, excursions and a guest presenter. Only limited teaching of content occurred during the trial due to limited time available. In this trial period, students have completed an environmental assessment and undertaken field sketches.
These trial activities were undertaken to study the Balmain Foreshore in the context of examining the Environmental Change and Management topic of Mandatory Geography (Year 10) of Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River but could also be used for studying Biomes (Year 9), and the Chemistry topic of Mandatory Science.
Implementing the project
The first full implementation of the project occurred during the second half of Term 1, 2023. It has resulted in a separate teaching and learning program for the Enrichment class, including different delivery of content, learning activities, etc. The students will also had a differentiated assessment task.
Teaching and learning activities have included:
An introduction including discussions about how the project would operate
A visit to Cockatoo Island to understand the historical uses of the harbour
Sustainability workshop with Australian Museum - Jenny Newell, Climate Curator
A rubbish count and analysis of the foreshore area including the basketball courts
Participation in Clean Up Australia Day
A terrestrial weed assessment on site (Bushcare area and surrounds) and some weed removal
A full day of fieldwork - water testing, field sketches, underwater and aerial drone activities, kayaking and initial surveys of local mangroves
Guest speaker from Sydney Institute of Marine Science & Living Seawalls - Dr Aria Lee, Project Manager, Living Seawalls
Guest Speaker from Rozelle Interchange - Charles Scarf, Environmental and Sustainability Manager
Biological survey of the existing seawall - supported by guest presenter Dr Rosie Steinberg