Maroota Public School students had a hands on introduction to biodiversity through a program devised by the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre.

Earth Alive is a science and technology program, which introduces scientific methodology to students while encouraging an understanding of the importance of biodiversity in the local environment.

The centre’s acting principal, Steve Papp, said the program – available to three schools each term – supports individual schools’ biodiversity investigations.

“Early in the program the students develop a hypothesis that forms the basis of their scientific investigation,” he said.

“Based on these investigations, the kids come up with an action plan to increase biodiversity in their school.” The Maroota Public Year 5 and 6 students focused on the school’s pond area, which they planted out with native grasses and shrubs, adding hollow logs and pipes to create habitats to attract native fauna including sugar and feathertail glider possums.

The area was also beautified with pebbles and rocks.

Many of the items were donated by the students’ families, with native grasses supplied by the Ryde-based Field of Mars centre.

Maroota Public School teacher Samantha Judd said the student’s action plan included a voluntary task of making a possum box.

Eight of the 17 students involved in the project made possum boxes at home.

“Rather than just sitting in class, we got them to go out and see what they could do.

It gave them a bit more ownership over their learning,” Ms Judd said.

The group conducted a follow up survey at the end of last term to assess the impact of the project on encouraging fauna into the school environment.

Mr Papp said because Maroota Public is a small rural school in the Hawkesbury region, he was confident the school would continue with the project.

“They’re living in [their environment] – it’s not an alien concept to them,” he said.

For details, go to www.fieldofmar-e.schools.nsw.edu.au