Year 3 CERES Excursion Reflection

Last Friday, our Year 3 learners had the wonderful opportunity to visit CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick East as part of their Inquiry into “How are living things dependent on each other?” and their exploration of Global Goal 15: Life on Land.

Through CERES’ Restoring Earth’s Ecosystems program, students were immersed in a day of hands-on learning, observation, and exploration. They investigated real-life ecosystems and explored the interconnectedness of living and non-living things, the importance of biodiversity, and the impact human actions can have on the environment.

As they explored the park, students identified native plants and animals, discussed what makes a habitat healthy, and reflected on how all living things depend on one another. They even practised survey skills, which they’ll now apply back at school to evaluate our own environment and brainstorm ways to better support local biodiversity.

Here’s what a few students shared about their experience:

“When we went to the lake, we found lots of different things living in it, such as algae, little orange fish and bugs which were all a part of that ecosystem.” — Jamie

“Things inside ecosystems can also be non-living, for example rocks!” — Shivane

“It's important to protect wildlife and healthy biodiversity because if one animal or plant's numbers are reduced, then the other plants and animals in that food chain might not be able to survive.” — Soha

We’re so proud of the thoughtful observations and curiosity our students showed throughout the day. This excursion sparked meaningful conversations and reflections that they’ve brought back to the classroom and we look forward to seeing how they continue to take action to care for the world around them.