YEAR 7 - YEAR 8

Join our education officers on Puffing Billy to examine and explore the past and present design and technology innovations and solutions.

Students disembark at Lakeside Station to explore the Lakeside Visitor Centre and consider design options with society, ethics, economic and social sustainability factors in mind. Students will learn about working systems, materials, components and tools required to make an informed design solution.

PUFFING BILLY EDEP 236

Curriculum links

Innovation Station Curriculum Links - The Victorian Curriculum F -10 Version 2.0
Curriculum Area Strand Sub-Strand Content Description
Design and TechnologiesTechnologies and SocietyHow people in design and technologies occupations consider ethical factors to design and produce products, services and environments (VC2TDE8S01)
The impacts of innovation and the development of technologies on designed solutions for ethical considerations including sustainable living (VC2TDE8S02)
Technologies ContextsEngineering principles and systemsAnalyse how force, motion and energy are used to manipulate and control engineered systems that are ethical (VC2TDE8C01)
Materials and technologies specialisationsAnalyse how characteristics and properties of tools, materials, systems and components can be selected, manipulated and combined to create designed solutions that are ethical (VC2TDE8C04)
Creating Designed SolutionsInvestigating and definingExplain needs or opportunities for designing, and investigate and select tools, materials, processes and components to create designed solutions (VC2TDE8D01)
Generating and designingGenerate, iterate and communicate design ideas, decisions and processes using technical terms and graphical representation techniques, using manual and digital tools (VC2TDE6D02)
Producing and implementingSelect, explain and use suitable materials, components, tools and techniques to safely make designed solutions (VC2TDE6D03)
EvaluatingNegotiate design criteria that address ethical considerations, including sustainability, to evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions (VC2TDE6D04)
ScienceScience as Human EndeavourPhysical SciencesBalanced and unbalanced forces acting on objects, including gravitational force, may be investigated and represented using force diagrams; changes in an object�s motion can be related to its mass and the magnitude and direction of the forces acting on it (VC2S8U14)
Energy exists in different forms, including thermal, chemical, gravitational and elastic, and may be classified as kinetic or potential; energy transfers (conduction, convection and radiation) and transformations occur in simple systems and can be analysed in terms of energy efficiency (VC2S8U15)
Household energy consumption can be analysed using an energy audit and is affected by appliance choice, building design, season and climate (VC2S8U16)
Science UnderstandingBiological SciencesMatter and energy flow through ecosystems and can be represented using models, including food webs and food pyramids; populations will be affected by changing biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem including habitat loss, climate change, seasonal migration and introduction or removal of species (VC2S8U04)
Science InquiryQuestioning and PredictingInvestigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses can be developed in guiding investigations to identify patterns, test relationships and analyse and evaluate scientific models (VC2S8I01)
Planning and conductingReproducible investigations to answer questions and test hypotheses can be planned and conducted, including identifying independent, dependent and controlled variables where applicable, stating assumptions, recognising and managing risks, considering ethical issues and following protocols when accessing cultural sites and artefacts on Country and Place (VC2S8I02)
Processing, modelling and analysingData and information can be organised and processed by selecting and constructing representations including tables, graphs, keys, models and mathematical relationships (VC2S8I04)
Information and processed data can be analysed to show patterns, trends and relationships, and to identify anomalies (VC2S8I05)
EvaluatingScientific methods, conclusions and claims can be analysed to identify assumptions, possible sources of error, conflicting evidence and unanswered questions (VC2S8I06)
Evidence-based arguments can be constructed to support conclusions or evaluate claims, including consideration of ethical issues and protocols associated with using or citing secondary data or information (VC2S8I07)
CommunicatingCommunicating ideas, findings and arguments for specific purposes and audiences involves the selection and use of appropriate presentation formats, scientific vocabulary, models and other representations, and may include the use of digital tools (VC2S8I08)
Visual ArtsDeveloping PracticesReflect on, analyse and document their own and others� visual arts practices to inform decisions they make in the exploration, development and resolution of their artworks (VC2AVA8D02)
CreatingSelect and manipulate visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks (VC2AVA8C01)
ExploringInvestigate ways that visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials are used to communicate ideas, perspectives and meaning in artworks created across cultures, times, places and other contexts (VC2AVA8E01)
MathematicsNumberFind percentages of quantities and express one quantity as a percentage of another, with and without digital tools (VC2M7N07)
StatisticsDistinguish between a population and a sample, and investigate techniques for data collection including census, sampling, experiment and observation, and explain the practicalities and implications of obtaining data through these techniques (VC2M8ST01)
Analyse and report on the distribution of data from primary and secondary sources using random and non-random sampling techniques (VC2M8ST02)
Personal and Social CapabilitySocial awareness and managementCollaborationSituations that benefit from collaboration; strategies for setting team goals; and ways team members can support one another to achieve team goals (VC2CP8O04)

Teacher & Student Resources

Puffing Billy Railway offers a range of pre and post excursion curriculum-linked resources to support teaching and learning in the classroom and at home. All resources are based around the topics of Energy, Force and Motion, Past and Present, Design and Technology and Biodiversity.

Pre-Excursion Activities

Gravity gurus

Tools in technology

Mobile magic

Save our species

Post-Excursion Activities

Who's in charge?

The power of volunteers

Ideas and innovations

Conservation in action

Excursion Workbook

Teachers are welcome to download this workbook for the students to use while they are onsite at Puffing Billy Railway.

  • Innovation Station Workbook | Download

Program details and information

Guided Excursion Rates

Belgrave to Lakeside

Fare type One way ^ Return
Kinder, P-10 students*$31.40$37.70
VCE students*$45.35$55.25
Adult*$46.35$59.40

*These discounted rates only apply during school terms and are not available during school holidays or on public holidays.

^ Note: Single Journeys require bus pick up from Lakeside or Menzies Creek.

PLEASE NOTE

  • Guided Programs are led by Education Officer and include:
    • A Puffing Billy train journey.
    • An educator-led, curriculum-aligned, education workshop.
    • An exploration of the natural environment.
  • The Additional Teacher/Leader Rate includes train fare plus guided program.
  • SPECIAL NEEDS GROUPS – Additional Carers charged at student rates.

Please note: Rates are subject to change without notice.

Guided Education Group Ratios

Group Type Teacher/Leader to Student Ratio
Special Needs Groups1:1
Early Years1:5
Primary1:10
Secondary1:10
Tertiary1:20

Free Of Charge Teacher Ratios

Group Type Teacher/Leader to Student Ratio
Special Needs Groups1:1
Early Years1:5
Primary1:10
Secondary1:10
Tertiary1:20

  • DURATION

    Half Day (approx. 10.30 am - 2.30 pm)

  • AVAILABILITY

    Monday - Friday during the Victorian School Terms

  • LOCATION

    OPTION 1 | RETURN JOURNEY
    Meet the Education Officer at Belgrave Station at 10:00am for an 11:00am departure (approx. 1-hour journey). Disembark at Lakeside Station at 11:55am. Enjoy lunch, the Lakeside Visitor Centre, an Educator led workshop and the natural surrounds. Board Puffing Billy at 2:15pm and return to Belgrave Station at approx. 3:10pm. 

    OPTION 2 | SINGLE JOURNEY
    Meet the Education Officer at Belgrave Station at 10:00am for an 11:00am departure (approx. 1-hour journey). Disembark at Lakeside Station at 11:55am. Enjoy lunch, the Lakeside Visitor Centre, an Educator led workshop and the natural surrounds. Depart on your school bus from Lakeside at 2:15pm. Other options can be scheduled.  according to Puffing Billy Railway timetable.

Enquiries

Enquire about our guided excursions via our online form.
Please contact the Education team for any further questions by emailing [email protected] or calling 03 9757 0700.