Our nature-based incursions are designed to connect students (and teachers) with the natural world through play. We believe it is important, and even vital, to connect the heart to nature. This creates an internal sense of why it’s important to change our environmental behaviours, and work to find sustainable solutions for our world.
The incursions are designed to empower students. In every session, they are given the opportunity to develop skills and find individual and collaborative success in the transformation of natural objects.
They link to the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability and to the learning areas of Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Design Technologies, Health & Physical Education, Arts and the Early Years Framework. General capabilities of critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical and intercultural understanding are embedded in all Educated by Nature programs.
“It was exciting to see how some extra materials and nature stations could open up new possibilities… Parents were interacting with their children to take sensory risks while squelching in the clay and making sculptures with their hands and feet. The children loved learning the new skill of working with a whittling tool and sand paper to transform a stick from rough to super smooth. There was also lots of creative play as the group engaged in making potions, building cubbies, constructing miniature worlds and creating nature crowns. We look forward to hearing stories about how this inspired more outdoor learning opportunities to promote creativity, independence and risk taking, as well as understanding of the natural world.”
Camilla Knight, St Hilda’s Anglican Girls School
Incursion Themes
We offer a variety of incursions, for Early Learning Centers and Kindergarten to Year 6. Developed by qualified teachers, our incursions link to the curriculum in unique, engaging ways.
Incursions can be run as one-off sessions, or form part of a larger series. They can also be coupled with our consultation sessions, or professional learning workshops, for a whole-school focus.
Not sure what would work best for your group? Please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your needs and provide a recommendation.
All incursions are 1.5 hours in duration.
Muddy Gully
Natural clay offers tactile experiences that engage the senses, inspire creativity and support fine and gross motor skills.
This incursion gives children an opportunity to take sensory risks in a supportive environment. Sloppy, firm, gooey and muddy clay is available for small scale or full body exploration of clay in various forms. Natural ochres are provided for face painting with an indigenous connection. Water play is also an important part of this incursion – a chance to tip, pour, collect and splash.
EYLF 1-5, Science, HPE, The Arts, Priorities – A&TSI
Imagination Village
Imaginative play is crucial to early social, cognitive and emotional development. A chance to interact with others, understand roles, develop empathy and test out theories.
Students will have an opportunity to connect with their imagination to create cubby villages and small worlds, dress up and create a teaparty with natural materials, and explore old fashioned grinders to grind up herbs and flowers to make potions.
Suitable for Years K-3.
EYLF 1-5, HASS, The Arts, Science, HPE
Tinkering Zone
Tools provide a sense of empowerment, provide children with a chance to take risks and experiment with transforming materials.
In this incursion children have the opportunity to use hammers, hand drills, saws and whittling tools to carve, cut, drill, saw and tinker. Developing physical skills and confidence the Tinkering Zone provides a place to make and create.
(Please note: additional parent helpers are needed for this incursion)
EYLF 1-5, Science, Design & Technologies, HPE, The Arts
Hut Building
Building shelters connects students with their sense of identity and place, but also with concepts of history and science.
Learning simple knot tying skills and building in teams, students explore basic tents from the early pioneers of Australia and engage in understanding of physics to make their own strong structure.
Science, HASS, Design & Technologies, HPE, The Arts, English – A&TSI
Flag Making
Fascinating aspects of nature can be discovered through the manipulation of natural materials.
Through the traditional art of Hapa Zome, a Japanese form of natural dye extraction, students investigate the properties and structure of trees and plants while making an artistic flag.
The skill of whittling is then used to reveal the inner beauty of a stick to create a flagpole using simple carving tools.
Science, HASS, Design & Technologies, HPE, The Arts
Fire
It is important to learn about the importance and danger of fire in Australia as well as practice using fire safely and confidently.
This incursion brings the fascination of fire to your location in either existing firepits or using portable fire containers. Students set up space for fire, select materials to build small fires in trays, practice a variety of fire lighting techniques and safely manage and use fire as a whole group.
(Please note, Terms 2 & 3 only, and location dependent)
Science, Geography, HPE, Priorities – Sustainability, A&TSI
Loose Parts
Choice and control are fundamental characteristics of play, so we afford children the freedom to engage with the environment and decide what they do with the resources. We facilitate the activity through careful observation, interaction, and occasional intervention.
As well as promoting creative play (combining resources for construction and making things), children engage in a wide range of play schemas and play types: locomotor play (exploring movement through different trajectories and physical actions); mastery and object play (enveloping, transporting and manipulating objects and the environment); imaginative play types (role play, fantasy play, socio-dramatic play); and risky play (being in control while experiencing the thrill of uncertainty).
Above all else, it is a lot of fun!
The loose parts we provide are primarily junk materials – an abundance of discarded items from homes and businesses repurposed for children’s play. The concept of environmental sustainability is seamlessly woven into this experience.
EYLF 1-5; Science, HPE, The Arts, Design and Technologies, English
Re:Build
Re:Build is a hands-on, play-based construction experience that invites children and young people to design, build, and reimagine their world using real tools and reclaimed materials.
Students learn tool safety, explore teamwork and creative problem-solving, and build simple structures using wood, nails, and imagination. Facilitators guide them through appropriate risk-taking, collaboration, and reflection, offering a glimpse into the power of process-based learning.
EYLF 1-5; Science, HPE, The Arts, Design and Technologies, English
Why choose our programs?
Listen to our co-founders – Daniel Burton and Trudi Bennett – explain what drives our incursions.