Instructions
Welcome, explorer! This worksheet is your guide to reflecting on your excursion to the Chittering Valley. The theme is "Living Landscapes: Exploring Nature, Sustainability, and Community." Complete each section to explore the different aspects of this amazing environment. Use your observations, notes, and imagination!
English: Words of the Wild
1. Environmental Poetry: A haiku is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three phrases of five, seven, and five. Write a haiku about a moment, a sound, or a sight from your Chittering Valley trip.
(5 syllables) __________________________________________________
(7 syllables) __________________________________________________
(5 syllables) __________________________________________________
2. Descriptive Writing: Choose one of the following and write a short, descriptive paragraph (3-4 sentences). Use sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) to bring your description to life.
- The feeling of the sun on your skin during the bushwalk.
- The sound of the birds in the morning.
- The smell of the eucalyptus trees (gum trees).
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Math: Nature by Numbers
1. Geometry in Nature: Look at your photos or drawings from the trip. Identify and draw two examples of geometric shapes you saw in nature (e.g., hexagons in a beehive, fractal patterns in a fern, circles in a water ripple).
Shape 1: ___________________
Drawing:
Shape 2: ___________________
Drawing:
2. Data Collection: Your group used a bird-ID app and recorded the number of different bird species seen each hour for four hours. The results were: Hour 1: 8 species, Hour 2: 12 species, Hour 3: 11 species, Hour 4: 9 species. What was the average number of bird species seen per hour? (Show your work).
Work: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Average: ___________________
Science: The Web of Life
1. Ecology & Food Chains: A food chain shows how energy is transferred from one living organism to another. Using the organisms below, create a simple food chain for the Chittering Valley ecosystem.
Organisms: Wedge-Tailed Eagle, Grass, Kangaroo
Producer: ______________ → Primary Consumer: ______________ → Tertiary Consumer: ______________
2. Biodiversity & Sustainability: In one sentence, explain why having a high level of biodiversity (many different types of plants and animals) is important for a healthy ecosystem.
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History: Footprints of the Past
The Chittering Valley has a rich history. Reflect on what you learned about its past.
1. Land Use Change: Describe one way the land in the Chittering Valley has been used by people in the past (e.g., for Indigenous culture, early European settlement, or agriculture) and how that compares to how it is used today.
Past Use: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Present Use Comparison: ______________________________________________________________________________
HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences): People and Places
1. Indigenous Perspectives: The traditional owners of the land are the Noongar people. Why is it important to learn about and respect the Indigenous history and connection to the land we visit?
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Social Studies: Community Connections
1. Sustainability and Community: How can sustainable farming practices in the Chittering Valley benefit both the natural environment and the local community (e.g., farmers, residents, tourists)?
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Art: Nature's Canvas
1. Landscape Sketching: Think about a view you saw on your trip. Briefly describe one element from that landscape and explain which art principle it demonstrates (e.g., "The tall, straight gum trees created vertical lines," or "The different shades of green in the bush showed a variety of tones").
Element: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Art Principle: __________________________________________________________________________________
Music: Symphony of the Bush
1. Natural Rhythms: The bush has its own music. List three different sounds you heard in nature. For one of them, describe its musical qualities (e.g., high/low pitch, fast/slow tempo, loud/soft volume).
- Sound 1: _________________________
- Sound 2: _________________________
- Sound 3: _________________________
Detailed Description of one sound's musical qualities: _______________________________________________
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Foreign Language: Noongar Words
The language of the traditional owners of the South West of Australia is Noongar. Match the Noongar word to its English meaning.
- Karda
- Djiti Djiti
- Bilya
- Moorn
- A. River
- B. Blackboy Tree (Xanthorrhoea)
- C. Willy Wagtail (bird)
- D. Goanna (large lizard)
Your answers: 1.____ 2.____ 3.____ 4.____
TECHNOLOGIES: Modern Exploration
1. Digital Tools: You used technology on your excursion, like a bird-ID app or a GPS for mapping. Describe one advantage of using digital technology to study the natural environment.
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Physical Education: Bushwalking Skills
1. Safety First: What are three essential safety rules you should always follow when bushwalking?
- _____________________________________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________________________________
- _____________________________________________________________________________________________
HEALTH: Mind and Body
1. Mindfulness in Nature: Mindfulness is about being fully present in the moment. Describe a simple mindfulness activity you could do in nature to help you feel calm and connected to your surroundings.
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Living Landscapes Quiz
Circle or write the correct answer for each question.
Part 1: Multiple Choice
1. What is ecology?
- The study of rocks and minerals.
- The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
- The study of historical weather patterns.
- The study of farming technology.
2. In a food chain, what is an organism that eats only plants called?
- A carnivore
- A producer
- A primary consumer (herbivore)
- A decomposer
3. Which of these is an example of a geometric shape commonly found in nature?
- A perfect square
- A fractal pattern in a fern
- A pyramid
- A rectangle
4. The Noongar word "Bilya" means:
- Goanna
- Tree
- Rock
- River
5. Why is biodiversity important for an ecosystem?
- It makes the area look nicer for tourists.
- It ensures the ecosystem is more resilient to change.
- It means there are more animals to hunt.
- It has no real importance.
6. What is the "S" in HASS stand for?
- Science
- Studies
- Sustainability
- Sciences
7. An app that helps you identify a bird by its call is an example of using technology for:
- Social media
- Environmental data collection
- Gaming
- Online shopping
8. The main goal of "sustainability" is to:
- Make as much money as possible from the land.
- Stop all human activity in an area.
- Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
- Use up all resources as quickly as possible.
9. In descriptive writing, using details about what you see, hear, and smell is called:
- Plot
- Sensory language
- Dialogue
- Rhythm
10. A key part of mindfulness is:
- Thinking about the future.
- Worrying about the past.
- Being fully present in the moment.
- Checking your phone.
Part 2: True or False
11. A haiku poem has a 5-7-5 syllable structure. (True / False)
12. It is safe to go bushwalking by yourself without telling anyone where you are going. (True / False)
13. A producer in a food chain, like grass, gets its energy from eating other organisms. (True / False)
14. The Chittering Valley has only ever been used for modern farming. (True / False)
15. Soil testing can help farmers understand how to improve their land sustainably. (True / False)
16. Using a map and compass is an old-fashioned technology for navigation. (True / False)
17. "Community" only refers to the people who live in a town, not visitors or wildlife. (True / False)
18. Line, color, and texture are all principles of art that can be seen in nature. (True / False)
19. The average of a set of numbers is found by multiplying them all together. (True / False)
20. The Noongar people are the traditional owners of the land in and around the Chittering Valley. (True / False)
Part 3: Fill in the Blank
21. A person who sketches landscapes is practicing a form of ______________ art.
22. Listening to the sounds of the wind, birds, and insects is like listening to a natural ______________.
23. The subject that combines History, Geography, and Civics is often called ______________.
24. When you walk safely and respectfully on a trail, you are practicing good ______________ etiquette.
25. A large lizard native to Australia, known as 'Karda' in Noongar, is the ______________.
26. The variety of all living things in a particular area is known as ______________.
27. Farming that focuses on long-term environmental health is called ______________ farming.
28. Writing in a ______________ is a great way to record your personal thoughts and experiences on an excursion.
29. An activity like sitting quietly and focusing on your breath is a ______________ exercise.
30. The study of the past, including how people lived and used the land, is ______________.
Answer Key
Worksheet Activities
- English: Answers are subjective. Haiku should have 5-7-5 syllable structure. Descriptive paragraph should use sensory details.
- Math: 1. Shapes could include circles (ripples, sun), spirals (shells), fractals (ferns), hexagons (honeycomb), spheres (berries). 2. Work: (8 + 12 + 11 + 9) / 4 = 40 / 4. Average: 10 species per hour.
- Science: 1. Producer: Grass → Primary Consumer: Kangaroo → Tertiary Consumer: Wedge-Tailed Eagle. 2. High biodiversity makes an ecosystem stronger and more resilient to challenges like disease or climate change.
- History: Past use could be Indigenous hunting/gathering, early farming, or timber. Present use includes modern agriculture, conservation, and tourism. The comparison should note the change in scale, technology, or purpose.
- HASS: It shows respect, helps us understand the continuous history of the land, and acknowledges their deep cultural and spiritual connection.
- Social Studies: Benefits include healthier food, attracting tourism, preserving the environment for residents, and creating a positive community identity.
- Art: Answers are subjective but should correctly link a natural element (e.g., a flower) to an art principle (e.g., symmetry, color, pattern).
- Music: Sounds could include birdsong, wind, rustling leaves, buzzing insects. Description should mention pitch, tempo, or volume (e.g., "The kookaburra's call was a loud, fast laugh").
- Foreign Language: 1-D, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B.
- TECHNOLOGIES: Advantages include speed, accuracy, ability to share data instantly, accessing large databases (like bird sounds), or precise location tracking with GPS.
- Physical Education: Any three of the following: 1. Tell someone your route and return time. 2. Wear appropriate footwear/clothing. 3. Carry enough water. 4. Stay on the marked trail. 5. Be aware of your surroundings (wildlife, weather). 6. Carry a first-aid kit.
- HEALTH: Activity could be: "Sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus only on the sounds around you for two minutes," or "Focus on the feeling of the breeze on your skin," or "Walk slowly and notice every detail of the ground beneath your feet."
Living Landscapes Quiz
- b. The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
- c. A primary consumer (herbivore)
- b. A fractal pattern in a fern
- d. River
- b. It ensures the ecosystem is more resilient to change.
- d. Sciences (Humanities and Social Sciences)
- b. Environmental data collection
- c. Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
- b. Sensory language
- c. Being fully present in the moment.
- True
- False
- False (It gets energy from the sun through photosynthesis).
- False (It has a long history of Indigenous use and early settlement).
- True
- True
- False (It includes all stakeholders who have a connection to the area).
- True
- False (You add them up and then divide by the count of numbers).
- True
- visual / fine
- symphony / soundscape
- HASS
- bushwalking / trail
- Goanna
- biodiversity
- sustainable
- journal / diary
- mindfulness
- History