Aboriginal Cultures and Country Year 3-4
Discover the significance of Healesville Sanctuary to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and learn about how they have lived on Country sustainably for tens of thousands of years.
Program description
Immerse yourself in the Australian bush and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and stories.
Led by an Aboriginal Cultures Education Officer, students will explore the seven seasons of the Kulin Nation and how these changes impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of living and the life cycles of different species.
Students will learn:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, traditions and their connections to the environment
- How living things depend on each other and the environment to survive
- The impact of humans and seasonal changes on the environment
- Sustainable practices to help care for wildlife in their local community
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their Healesville Sanctuary visit.
Connect and Understand
Students will interact with the natural environment to learn more about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s connection to the land and how their ways of living positively influenced the landscape.
Your Sanctuary visit will include: A Welcome (for arrivals between 9.50am-10.10am), a Healesville Sanctuary Teacher workshop (40 minutes), Spirits of the Sky presentation and keeper talks. Check out your Teaching Guide for other ideas of what to do at Healesville Sanctuary.
Understand
Use activities in the Teaching Guide to deepen students’ learning back at school.
Act
Use the Teaching Guide to enable students to master their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.
Program maps and itineraries
Digital maps will be provided to you on the day.
Program resources
Learning outcomes
Victorian Curriculum 3-4
The many Countries/Places of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia, and the custodial responsibility they have for Country/Place, and how this influences views about sustainability (VCGGK080)
- Students will discover how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of living influenced the wildlife and land and consider how to incorporate sustainable practices in their own lives.
Types of natural vegetation and the significance of vegetation to the environment, the importance of environments to animals and people, and different views on how they can be protected; the use and management of natural resources and waste, and different views on how to do this sustainably (VCGGK082)
- Students will explore the importance of the natural environment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how they managed resources sustainably.
Different living things have different life cycles and depend on each other and the environment to survive (VCSSU058)
- Students will learn about constellations and how they relate to animal life cycles and the seasons.
Earth’s rotation on its axis causes regular changes, including night and day (VCSSU061)
- Students will learn about constellations and how they relate to animal life cycles and the seasons.
Plan your excursion
This porgram is an outdoor all-weather program; the students will need appropriate clothing for weather conditions. This could include a raincoat, hat and sun protection.
The organising teacher should make themselves known to Admission Staff prior to entering Healesville Sanctuary so that payment can be made. More information.
Book your education experience
Fill out an online form to request a booking for your zoo education experience
Request booking nowYou will need to know the following to book your zoo excursion or online workshop:
- Education program of your choice (if applicable)
- Preferred date
- School name and address
- Contact details of organising teacher
- Number of students/classes and their year level