What Schools Want
The secrets schools
 want you to find out 
Tristan Mether
Principal - Labertouche PS
Formally a teacher at
- Trafalgar PS (2005 - 2009)
- Thorpdale PS 2004
My own opinion, with a little help 
from working in schools...
Secret 1: $$$
Schools are almost always 
driven by $$$. The more bang for
your buck, normally wins out.
Secret 2: Link, Link, Link
The more links that an excursion
or incursion can make with what is 
happening in a school, means it is more
likely to attract schools to want you.
Secret 3: Mail does not attract schools...mostly
In a normal school day, schools will 
get about 10 to 20cm of mail from 
companys trying to sell them stuff.
Secret 4: Free stuff gets schools attention.
Free stuff in the mail (CD/DVD, 
USB-Keys, Mugs) from a venue or 
program will make schools notice you.
Secret 5: Buses
Buses costs are often 
the biggest killer of going anywhere
Secret 6: Session Times
Make sure that session times
fit with school times, childcare times
and school bus times.  
THE END
Presentation 
@
www.tristanmether.com
Questions???
Secret 7: Enough Stuff
Make sure that you have
enough stuff for each student
Don't let "Little Jimmy" missout.

Secret 8: Diverse Educational Program
An educational program which has 
a diverse  range of options, will mean the more schools return to your venue and
the more students will get out of it.


Dip and Discover

Explore our wetlands by ponding for water critters and testing the water quality for temperature and turbidity.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Indigenous program - Shared Country

Discover the importance of the environment to the Kulin people and how plants were used for food, fibre, medicine, tools and so on. Experiences include a discovery walk, examining artefacts and string making using natural fibre.
Aboriginal Resource Trail (PDF format 1.3MB)
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Minibeasts

Investigate the creatures we share our bush and wetlands with, exploring how they live and their lifecycles. How do minibeasts help our gardens grow and why do plants attract or repel them? Experiences include ponding, discovery-walk, animal observations and sensory exploration of plants and water.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Australian Environments

Explore the Australian Garden and our native remnant bushland to identify plant communities. Why do plants live in certain places and not others? How are they adapted to coping with dry conditions? Experiences include a discovery walk and sensory exploration of plants and landscape.
Teacher Resources
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Introduction to the Australian Garden

The Australian Garden is a fantastic opportunity to journey through Australia’s varied landscapes examining the sights, smells and textures of plants from across this land. Experiences include discovery-walk, observations, sensory exploration of plants and landscape and a creative art activity.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Water in a Dry Country

Where has all our water gone and how can we make better use of the water we still have? We look at these problems in a positive and creative way by designing our own mini landscapes with colourful and surprising mulches. This is a great earthy, textural team activity. We also look at how some plants themselves can survive in really tough dry environments.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Scents and Senses

Immerse yourself in sensory bliss. Explore the Australian Garden with all of your senses in a manner that will delight, excite and surprise you with its depth and intensity. Smell and taste the flavours of Australia, see the clear, strong light illuminating our landscapes and hear the sounds hidden by our everyday rush. Above all, feel more than the textures of a time worn land, feel the excitement of a special place. Experiences include leaf rubbing, potpourri and bushfood tasting.
VELS Program Guide (PDF format 71KB)
Secret 9: Rest Spot
A easy place for kids to store your bag, 
eat lunch and go to the toilet, is also a 
big drawcard. 
Secret 10: Worksheets Don't Work
Worksheets and actvity booklet
don't work for schools or kids and are 
on the way out.  Games, open-ended activities
and Inquiry question with resource links
are much better options.