Year 1 inquiry….is it natural, managed or constructed?

Students from Year 1 set out last week on an adventure through one section of the Mount Pleasant Nature Reserve, near Campbell Primary School. This was part of our inquiry into ‘What Makes a Place Special?’ We had been inquiring into the different features of places and at Mount Pleasant Reserve we were able to observe natural features, managed features and constructed features.

We trekked up to the ‘Water Tank’ and had a glorious view over one part of Canberra. While walking past a particularly gorgeous home in Campbell near the water tank, one budding real estate entrepreneur was heard to comment….”Look at that place…it must have cost at least $400!” 

We listened for a ‘soundscape’ and could hear birds chirping, insects cricking and some cars passing on roads nearby. It was definitely different to the ‘city soundscape’ we heard during music that included car noise, honking, people talking and sirens or the  ‘classroom soundscape’  we heard with students and teachers talking, singing, pencils clacking etc.

Then we carefully made our way to another place on the Reserve where the Mount Pleasant ParkCare group of volunteers had been doing some planting and weeding to regenerate the area. While we were there, we saw the damage that rabbits can do to our natural environment and especially to the habitat of other animals. We were able to get a sense of how people, like the ParkCare group, take time out to care for places in our local area.

All the while we were scouting for a view of an endangered species, the Little Eagle. We saw and heard a number of birds but the only ‘eagle’ we saw was the Australian-American Memorial - the stylised American eagle sculpture constructed in 1953-54 as a memorial to the sacrifices made by Australian and American service personnel in defending Australia during World War II.

We then walked down the managed walkway and had a wonderful view of the city - an area full of constructed features, including our beautiful water fountain, Telstra Tower and city buildings. We were also lucky to spot a beautiful nest in one of the gum trees above. Then on to Elliot Place Park, a lovely ‘managed space’ for a play. “Are we lost?” asked one of our students while we were playing at Elliot Place Park? “No, just having fun in our local environment!”

Our Year 1 students really demonstrated that they are Safe, Respectful Learners when it comes to leaving the school boundaries and going on an excursion. We all had a wonderful time and cannot wait for our next ‘local adventure’.

Special thanks to Mrs Penney, Ms Reiby, Kristina and Wayne for assisting us on our walk.