Excursions ~ Resources ~ Projects ~ Professional Learning ~ Careers
Owner - Louise Swanson
03/06/2026
Feedback on a recent excursion for the Geographical Investigation. This excursion involves introducing students to developing research topics and aims, planning an inquiry, examining local issues, and learning about different fieldwork techniques. Students undertake initial fieldwork to kickstart their own independent research.
03/06/2026
The Independent Schools NSW Geography Conference was held today at Ascham. The theme was “Interconnected Worlds: Sustainability and Place in Geography Education.”
My presentation was “Parramatta River: Re-maging our relationship with the river”. It continued a theme of presentations over the past few years. Earlier presentations have focused on the Sydney Harbour Estuary, habitat restoration projects in the harbour, and school projects centred on habitat enhancement. Today’s presentation focused on efforts to reimagine Parramatta River, work planned and undertaken to implement Water Sensitive Urban Design, manage stormwater and restore riparian ecosystems to create a swimmable river. I also discussed innovative fieldwork techniques to investigate the river such as eDNA testing, and citizen science tools such as iNaturalist.
It was also great to catch up with the Jacaranda team again and to see Geoactive in print!! Yay!
1 June is World Reef Day.
Instead of sharing slogans and messages, I’ve chosen to share photos from my own experiences. These are from a period when I was visiting Far North Queensland a few times a year and a bit obsessed with coral. As a beginning teacher I had taken a class to the GBR and loved teaching about coral reefs for my HSC classes. This time was a period that was really formative for me as a teacher, because it was through that connection with the environment that I was able to communicate my passion for what I was teaching with my students.
I nearly always pick holidays based on where I can have a good snorkel. I was lucky enough to visit Lizard Island in 2012 as part of a field trip with the International Coral Reef Symposium, before the successive bleaching events started hitting FNQ. It was spectacular. I hope to return one day.
Over the years I have always found a way to include something about coral reefs into textbooks or conference presentations - either small case studies or whole sections (there are still some of my GBR photos in Geoactive from Fitzroy and Lizard Islands), and I was super excited to write a chapter on the Coral Triangle for Powerful Geography 2.
I am passionate about teaching students about protecting, restoring and managing reefs.
01/06/2026
Habitat restoration is an engaging, contemporary topic for students to examine as part of an independent research project. There are a lot of examples around Sydney and along the NSW coast which provide opportunities for students to collect primary data.
The Geographical Investigation involves students identifying an area for study, developing questions for investigation, collecting primary data, accessing and processing secondary information, communicating findings and proposing recommendations.
The Harbour School Sydney can lead your class through the process of the GI and provide opportunities for fieldwork in a variety of locations.
30/05/2026
Community learning, checking methodology and equipment with Greater Sydney Landcare with the Streamwatch program.
29/05/2026
27/05/2026
This , the 2026 theme “All In” calls on all Australians to move beyond symbolic gestures and commit to reconciliation through meaningful action every day.
The Parramatta River Catchment Group is committed to building respectful relationships with First Nations peoples and deepening understanding of their enduring connection to Country and the importance of protecting our natural resources.
Visit your council’s website for events happening in your local area.
Blacktown City Council Burwood Council City of Canada Bay City of Canterbury Bankstown Cumberland City Council Hunter's Hill Council Inner West Council Strathfield Council Sydney Water Sydney Olympic Park NSW Environment Protection Authority Landcare NSW Greater Sydney Landcare Addventageous Parramatta River Riverkeeper Network Friends of Toongabbie Creek Harbour Trust City of Ryde The Harbour School Sydney City of Parramatta Birdlife Southern NSW
26/05/2026
As part of the beach wrack survey on Monday a lot of dislodged seagrass was washed up on the beach, strewn along the wharf and even some up on the grass on land. Usually we find seagrass leaves in a survey but this time it was whole sections of the seagrass plant. This was a good opportunity for students to see the whole plant and examine it, rather than just look at diagrams. There was also a whole chunk of loose seagrass that provided another opportunity to discuss the concept of microhabitats with a range of amphipods swimming around in the water in the collection tray. The beach wrack survey provides an opportunity for students to understand more about biodiversity by identifying different species, but it also reinforces concepts about how interconnected habitats are by the processes that shape and impact them, and the relationships between the organisms living amongst the different parts of the plants and algae.
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
