AVAILABLE PRESENTATIONS

1) Science of the Surf for Years 3-6

Length: approx 50 minutes including student question time

Format: Powerpoint with photographs and movies; student interaction encouraged

Topics Covered: Beach safety theme throughout with a focus on local coast and beaches. Topics covered include safe and dangerous waves, wave breaking, rip currents rock platforms, beach types and safe beaches.

Learning Material: website quiz and fact sheets, school provided with copies of a rip current awareness poster A copy of the advertising flyer can be downloaded here

2) Science of the Surf for Years 7-12

Length: approx 45 minutes including student question time

Format: Powerpoint with photographs and movies

Topics Covered: Same material as above, but with more detailed information on coastal evolution, storms, sea level rise processes and beaches.

Learning Material: website quiz and fact sheets, school provided with copies of a rip current awareness poster

3) Coastal Management Issues and Coastal Processes for Years 7-12

Length: approx 45 minutes including student question time

Format: Powerpoint with photographs and movies

Topics Covered: Coastal impacts of climate change, sea level rise, storms, beach erosion, coastal management options, coastal processes, beach hazards. Perfect for Year 10 Geography curriculum.

Learning Material: New fact sheets are being developed A copy of the advertising flyer can be downloaded here

LOGISTICS

Cost is $4 per student for all presentations

Minimum audience size is 50

Multiple sessions recommended for 200+ students

Parents are encouraged to attend for primary talks at no extra cost

Schools will need to provide:

• Digital projector or smart board

• A room/venue capable of being semi-darkened to optimise viewing of presentation

WHY DOES YOUR SCHOOL NEED THE SCIENCE OF THE SURF?

• If your school is on the coast, your kids probably go to the beach all the time and it is therefore extremely important that they understand how beaches, waves and rips work.

• If your school is away from the coast, your kids probably go to the beach infrequently which means they probably don’t have a good understanding of beach and surf conditions and they are therefore at high risk.

• The Science of the Surf is visually based and essentially “brings the beach to the classroom”.

• School kids can never have enough surf education and the Science of the Surf is the only surf education program to have been awarded a NSW Department of Education and Training Frater Award for Excellence in School Performance.

PRIMARY LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the presentation, students will:

• Understand how beaches form and the environmental issues affecting them

• Understand how waves are created and what the different types of waves are

• Recognise types of breaking waves and identify safe and unsafe waves

• Be able to identify rip currents and know why, when and how they form

• Know how to react safely if caught in a rip

• Be able to identify the different types of beaches in NSW and Australia and their associated hazards

• Recognise the importance and limitations of beach flags and hazard signs

• Gain valuable surf safety and survival tips

• Be more knowledgeable and confident in the surf

ACCREDITATION

The Science of the Surf (SOS) School Performance is fully accredited by the New South Wales Department of Education's Performing Arts Unit (Performance # 1705). For more information contact Lyn Cook by E-mail by clicking here.

The SOS has a Public Liability Insurance Policy of up to $10,000,000.

NSW DET Performing Arts Unit Description

“Do you know how waves form and break? Do you know how to spot rip currents and how to get out of one? What is a safe wave and an unsafe wave? Why are some beaches safer than others? All these questions and more are addressed in the informative and entertaining presentation SOS! Students learn the basic principles and hazards associated with beaches and surf zones - in Australia and also overseas. They also develop an understanding of how coastal zones work and the best way to ensure they have safe visit to the beach.”

TEACHER AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

The 2007 Frater Award for excellence in school performance was based on feedback forms sent to the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Sample feedback from teachers during 2007 and 2008 can be found here.

Feedback from people attending the community Science of the Surf seminars can be found by clicking here.