Hiking Expedition Planning

Year Level

Year 12 (Health and Physical Education)

Duration

45 minutes

Class Size

10 students

Curriculum Alignment

Australian Curriculum (v9) - Health and Physical Education

ACPPS121: Plan, implement and assess strategies to enhance participation and safety in outdoor activities.
ACPPS125: Investigate and apply movement concepts and strategies to refine movement and physical performance.
ACPPS126: Design and implement fitness programs to achieve specific health and movement goals.

This lesson focuses on expedition planning, including aspects such as historical and environmental context, fitness preparation, and minimum impact practices for hiking, aligning with outdoor adventure activity requirements in the Australian Curriculum for Year 12 HPE.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Analyse key aspects of hiking expedition planning to assist in personal and group preparation, including environmental and historical context, weather, goals, routes, scheduling, equipment, nutrition, and safety procedures.
Design an outline for a hiking expedition plan including a route map, schedule, equipment and menu lists, standard operating procedures, and minimum impact practices reflecting relevant environmental management plans.
Identify fitness requirements and design basic fitness goals and programs tailored for hiking expedition preparation.
Evaluate how historical and environmental knowledge influences safe and responsible hiking practices.

Resources Needed

Topographical maps of a local hiking area or a specific Australian bush reserve.
Sample weather forecast data.
Equipment list templates and menu planning sheets.
Copies of relevant environmental management plan excerpts (local/regional park).
Whiteboard and markers.
Printed or digital outline of pre-European and post-European history of the local hiking area.
Pens, paper, and student devices (optional).
Stopwatch or timer for activity management.

Lesson Structure

Time	Activity Description	Details	Curriculum Links
5 min	Introduction	Briefly introduce the concept of expedition planning in hiking, emphasising safety, environmental respect, and fitness preparation. Outline lesson objectives.	ACPPS121
8 min	Historical and Environmental Context	Present a summary of the pre-European and post-European history of the local hiking area. Discuss major natural features, ecosystems, and relationships in the environment. Highlight relevant environmental management plans.	ACPPS121
7 min	Expedition Planning Components	In small groups, students explore aspects: weather info, personal and group goals, route mapping, scheduling, equipment and menu lists, SOPs, minimum impact practices. Each group focuses on 2-3 components and reports back.	ACPPS121
10 min	Practical Planning Task	Students collaboratively draft a basic hiking itinerary and checklist including: chosen route on a map, schedule, equipment and menu, safety procedures, and minimum impact actions tailored to the environmental plan discussed earlier.	ACPPS121, ACPPS126
10 min	Fitness Preparation Discussion and Design	Students identify fitness requirements for hiking (endurance, strength, flexibility). Then, each student outlines a personal fitness goal and a simple fitness program design to improve hiking readiness.	ACPPS126
5 min	Reflection and Assessment	Group reflection on the importance of detailed planning and fitness preparation. Students complete a short written exit slip answering: "How does understanding the environment and history improve hiking safety and impact?" and "What fitness goals will you focus on and why?"	ACPPS121, ACPPS126

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Collaborative Learning: Group work encourages peer teaching and shared responsibility in planning tasks.
Inquiry-based Learning: Exploring history and environmental context through guided questions deepens understanding.
Problem-solving: Drafting expedition plans requires critical thinking about practical implications.
Personalised Learning: Designing individual fitness goals accommodates varying student fitness levels.
Visual Learning: Use of maps and environmental management plan excerpts aids spatial and contextual understanding.

Assessment

Formative: Observation during group discussions and planning activities; questioning to assess understanding of minimum impact practices and safety procedures.
Summative: Exit slip responses assessed for comprehension of expedition planning impact; fitness program design assessed for relevance and feasibility.
Feedback: Immediate verbal feedback provided during group presentations; written feedback on exit slip in the following lesson.

Minimum Impact Practices Highlighted

Stick to established trails.
Carry out all waste.
Minimise noise and disturbances to wildlife.
Respect cultural sites and areas.
Follow environmental management guidelines specific to the hiking area.

Extensions

Plan a full hiking expedition including detailed nutrition menu and risk management.
Complete a practical fitness session focusing on hiking-specific exercises.
Conduct a weather forecast analysis and integrate findings into planning.

This lesson provides a comprehensive, practical approach to hiking expedition planning that meets the Year 12 Australian Curriculum (Health and Physical Education) requirements. It balances theoretical knowledge with applied skills and encourages environmental responsibility, personal fitness, and safety awareness for outdoor adventure activities.

Teaching Instructions