Planning a The Rocks school excursion involves more than choosing an interesting place to visit.
Teachers need to know whether the experience suits their year group, connects with what they are teaching, what students will actually do, and how the day will work.
At The Rocks Walking Tours, our educational programs use the streets, buildings, laneways and historic places of The Rocks as an outdoor classroom.
Here are seven things to consider when choosing the right excursion for your class.
1. Is a The Rocks school excursion suitable for my year group?
The Rocks Walking Tours offers educational programs for primary and secondary students, with tours designed around different stages, subjects and learning objectives.
Depending on the program, students may explore topics such as:
• early Sydney and British colonisation
• the First Fleet
• convict life
• Australia as a Nation
• Federation
• history and heritage
• the Green Bans
• Beatie Bow’s Sydney
If you are unsure which tour best suits your students, tell us your year group and learning focus and we can help you choose.
2. Does it connect with what I teach?
A good school excursion should support classroom learning.
Our programs connect with curriculum areas including HSIE, History, Geography and English.
One of the strengths of a The Rocks school excursion is that students can explore history in the place where it happened.
Instead of only reading about the past, students can look at buildings, streets, historical images, maps and other evidence in the actual environment.
This helps students connect classroom learning with real places.
3. What will my students actually do?
Students do more than simply walk and listen.
Depending on the program, they may:
- compare historical images with places they can see today
- examine buildings and streets for evidence of the past
- hear stories about people who lived and worked in early Sydney
- use maps and images as historical sources
- discuss how Sydney changed over time
- ask questions and make observations
The experience is designed to be active and engaging rather than a classroom-style lecture.
4. Who will guide the students?
The guide can make a significant difference to the quality of an excursion.
Our guides are trained specialists who know The Rocks and its history and are experienced in working with school groups.
They use the surrounding environment as part of the learning experience, helping students notice details, ask questions and understand why particular places matter.
5. What practical details should teachers know?
Tours generally run for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the program.
Larger school groups can be divided into smaller groups, with up to 30 students per guide.
We recommend arriving at least 20 minutes before the tour start time.
The school coach drop-off and pick-up point is at the corner of Lower Fort and George Streets in The Rocks.
A representative from The Rocks Walking Tours will meet your group and help organise students before the tour begins.
Pre-tour information is also provided to help teachers prepare.
6. How do I choose the right program?
Start with three simple questions:
What year or stage are my students?
What are we currently studying?
What do I want students to understand better after the excursion?
For example, you may want students to better understand early settlement, the First Fleet, everyday life in colonial Sydney, Federation, heritage, or the setting of Playing Beatie Bow.
If you are not sure which program is the best fit, tell us your year group, approximate student numbers and teaching topic and we can recommend a suitable option.
7. How do I enquire about a The Rocks school excursion?
School tours are booked directly through The Rocks Walking Tours. https://www.rockswalkingtours.com.au/educational-program-enquiry/
When making an enquiry, it helps to include:
- your preferred date and time
- school year or stage
- approximate number of students
- number of teachers or supervising adults
- the program you are interested in, if known
- the subject or topic you are teaching
- any access requirements or other considerations
Bring classroom learning into the real world
A The Rocks school excursion gives students the chance to explore history where it happened.
Rather than simply hearing about the past, students can see the buildings, streets, laneways and evidence that help tell Sydney’s story.
The Rocks Walking Tours has been delivering educational programs in The Rocks since 1978.
If you are planning a school excursion, explore our Educational Programs or contact us to discuss your year group, curriculum topic and preferred date.
Click on the link to make an enquiry with us.
https://www.rockswalkingtours.com.au/educational-program-enquiry/