For High School Teachers information please scroll down to the next section.

A Study in Change suits Early Stage 1, Stage 1 and Stage 2 students by choosing appropriate stories and using differing emphasis in the activities. It meets a number of outcomes in each Stage.

The day’s schedule depends on group size, weather and staffing. It usually starts with the “Walk and Talk”. The guide relates stories about the early pioneers on the property as they walk around various sites, including the Wonnarua grinding grooves.

There is then a round of activities with students in smaller groups (10 students with an adult leader). Some activities are presented by the guides and others require the group leader to direct students.

The activities often include;

• Washing the clothes with washboard and soap
• Old fashioned games (knuckles, horse-shoes, skipping, elastics etc)
• Set the table in the Homestead dining room
• Carrying water with yokes and old buckets
• Visit the kitchen and find out what’s different to today’s kitchens
• Dress up in costume and take a ‘school’ photo (don’t smile!)

CLICK HERE to download pre and post-visit activities

CLICK HERE to download Stage 1 – Intro to the excursion activities

CLICK HERE to visit Tocal College’s website for further schools information

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Paddock to Plate suits Stage 1 and Stage 2 students, who in groups of 10 start with a ‘scavenger hunt trail’ around the heritage farm to locate various food products in context; eggs in the chicken house, milk at the dairy, fruit in the orchard etc. They gather back together and discuss what they have found and what meal they could prepare from the collected items.

Stage 2 students will also learn of Aboriginal food farming, gathering and preparation at sites around the farm.

After lunch, students visit the Tocal farms; beef, sheep and dairy.

(If you are able to stay until 2.15pm you will see the dairy cows go through for their afternoon milking).

Please ensure your bus stays all day for this excursion.

Stage specific workbooks are available as part of the Tocal Virtual Farm (see the Teaching Guides and Student workbooks for K-6).

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Australia’s Environmental Story: Past and Present suits Stage 3 students. Children are broken down into groups with a ratio of 1 parent helper/teacher per 10 students. Students take an inquiry-based examination of the site to assess the nature of convict or colonial presence and how the environment has changed, along with the celebration of experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, past and present. In their groups, children will rotate to the following activity stations:

• House: People and Places
• Kitchen: Continuity and change in technology 
• Thunderbolt: Significant People
• Blacksmith: Significant People
• Map Reading: Site study
• Blacket Barn: Everyday life in a colonial settlement
• Aboriginal Perspectives: interaction between Aboriginal and European people

Information and Bookings

Contact the Schools Coordinator on 02 4939 8901 for more information about the programs or email homestead@tocal.com

Times

Programs start at 10:00 AM and conclude at 2:00 PM.

However due to travel times we understand that you may need to amend your arrival and departure. Please advise us at the time you book if you need to arrive earlier or later or depart earlier than these times.

Student numbers

Primary School programs operate with groups up to 90 students, however it is best with 50 – 70 students. If you have a large cohort please book over two days.

Small schools are most welcome to book and can either choose to visit with another small school or book a day of their own. Groups of fewer than 20 students pay a flat minimum group fee.

Home schooled groups are also very welcome.

Location

Tocal Homestead is located at 957 Tocal Road, Paterson about a 20 minute drive from Maitland and 30 minutes from Raymond Terrace. If travelling from Maitland, the Homestead entry is through a white picket fence, 1.4 km past the Tocal College main gate.

CLICK HERE to download our Risk Assessment
CLICK HERE to download our app

Costs and Payment

Students – $20.00 per student

Teachers, teacher aides and parent helpers FREE

Additional parents – $20.00 per person

For groups of fewer than 20 students a flat fee of $400.00 will be applied.

Please note all prices include GST.

In the week following your excursion, your school office will be invoiced for the exact number of students who attended the excursion. Any extra parents attending will also be shown on the invoice.

Parent Helpers

For the best student experience, an adult ratio of 1:10 students works well.  Ideally, a parent helper with each group of 10 students then leaves teachers clear to oversee and assist as needed. Also to take advantage of the many photo opportunities.

Parent helpers should be actively involved with their group and encourage students to participate in the activities.

Additional parents are $20.00 per head.

Wet Weather

Programs will run in most weather, except extreme rain and flooding. When the weather is questionable, the teacher in charge of the excursion is responsible for making the decision to postpone or cancel on the morning of the excursion. Please call the office 4939 8901 (or after hours on 0498 018 984) to check local weather conditions.

Tocal generally receives a lot less rain than the coastal areas, and while it may be raining heavily in Newcastle, Swansea or Maitland, often there is no rain at Tocal.

What to Bring

Please ensure that students, teachers and parent helpers bring all food and drink requirements for the day as there is no access to a shop. We provide tea, coffee and biscuits for teachers and parents.

We ask that everyone wears sun hats and sturdy shoes, but there is no specific requirement for students to wear school uniform. Usually your school will be the only group on site when you visit.

General information

Comprehensive information on the Tocal Farm, including work books for Stages 5 and 6 can be found at the Tocal Virtual Farm;  

CLICK HERE for the Virtual Farm Experience
CLICK HERE to download the Risk Assessment
CLICK HERE to download the Farm Case Study Workbook

Location

Tocal Homestead is at 957 Tocal Road, Paterson about a 20 minute drive from Maitland and 30 minutes from Raymond Terrace.   If travelling from Maitland, the Homestead entry is 1.4km past the Tocal College main gate.

Costs and Payment

Students – $20.00 per student

Teachers and drivers are FREE                                            

For groups of fewer than 20 students a flat fee of $400.00 will be applied.

Please note all prices include GST.

In the week following your excursion, your school office will be invoiced for the exact number of students who attended the excursion. Any extra parents attending will also be shown on the invoice.

Wet Weather

Programs will run in most weather, except extreme rain and flooding. When the weather is questionable, the teacher in charge of the excursion is responsible for making the decision to postpone or cancel on the morning of the excursion. Please call the office 4939 8901 (or after hours on 0498 018 984) to check local weather conditions.

Tocal generally receives a lot less rain than the coastal areas, and while it may be raining heavily in Newcastle, Swansea or Maitland, often there is no rain at Tocal.

What to Bring

Please ensure that students and staff bring all food and drink requirements for the day as there is no access to a shop.

We ask that everyone wears suitable clothes for the weather and sturdy shoes, but there is no specific requirement for students to wear school uniform. Usually your school will be the only group on site when you visit.

Information and Bookings

Contact the Schools Co-ordinator on 02 4939 8901 or email homestead@tocal.com for any enquiries or to make a booking