Aboriginal Culture and Life Cycles
Dreamtime stories teach us that everything is connected. Discover the connections between animal life cycles, seasonal changes and the environment using augmented reality to explore the night sky and understand Aboriginal culture.
Program description
Aboriginal Culture and Life Cycles brings the wisdom of the Dreamtime to life, allowing students to explore the life cycles of animals and their connections to the environment, seasons, the night sky and Aboriginal culture.
On their journey, students will encounter an animal, act out a Dreamtime story and interact with the natural environment using augmented reality, all while having a lot of fun!
Students will learn:
- Life cycles and unique features of animals
- Aboriginal connections between the animals, environment, seasons and the night sky
- Power of augmented reality technology to understand the world around us
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the teaching guide (below) to spark student curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Students will explore Healesville Sanctuary, making connections between animal life cycles, the environment, seasons and the night sky. Discover augmented reality technology and learn about the world around us.
Your Sanctuary visit will include: A Welcome (for arrivals between 9:50am-10:10am), Healesville Sanctuary Teacher-led activities, Spirits of the Sky presentation and keeper talks. Check out your Teaching Guide for other ideas of what to do at the zoo.
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 F-2
Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met (VCSSU042)
- Students will observe the unique features of Australian animals
Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (VCSSU043)
- Students will learn about the life stages of Australian animals
Observable changes occur in the sky and landscape; daily and seasonal changes affect everyday life (VCSSU046)
- Through Augmented Reality, students will observe the night sky and relate this to the seasons
Weather and seasons and the ways in which different cultural groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, describe them (VCGGK067)
- Students learn about how seasons are described by the Wurundjeri people
Plan your excursion
Aboriginal Culture and Life Cycles an outdoor all-weather program; the students will need appropriate clothing for weather conditions. This could include a raincoat, hat and sun protection.
School groups will enter Healesville Sanctuary via the Main Entrance. Organising teachers please check in with our Admissions team upon arrival. More information.
All onsite excursion bookings are subject to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions and as such are subject to change in line with the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s advice. We will be in contact with all teachers prior to their booked date if we need to clarify any new requirements. See the COVID-Safe information for schools before your visit.
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