Aboriginal Cultures and Country Year 3-4
Explore Aboriginal cultures and discover the diverse adaptations that help our Australian wildlife to survive.
Program description
Immersed in the Australian grassland habitat, learn about Aboriginal culture and stories of the land and wildlife on which we meet. Through stories, discover the Aboriginal peoples’ connection to the land and wildlife and how these beliefs and values helped keep the Australian landscape sustainable.
Engage in hands-on activities and explore the unique adaptations and life cycles that help Australian wildlife to survive in diverse habitats. Match life cycles, diets, skulls and habitats to our Australian animals and investigate the challenges these animals face in the wild.
Students will learn:
- About Aboriginal culture, stories and their connection to the land and wildlife
- How to identify key features Australian animals have developed to survive
- How Australian animals rely on each other and the environment
- The challenges Australian wildlife face in the wild
- How Zoos Victoria is helping to Fight Extinction
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
With a Zoo Teacher, students will learn how to group animals based on their life cycles and adaptations. They will discover how animals rely on the physical conditions within their environment to survive. Students will participate in a discussion about Australian wildlife and the challenges they face in the wild and learn about Zoos Victoria’s mission to fight extinction!
Your zoo visit will include: Introduction (for arrivals between 9:45am – 10:00am), Zoo Teacher workshop (30 minutes), Safari Bus Tour (40 minutes) 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
Your booking confirmation email will list your group's education workshop/s and safari bus tour time. Each workshop time has its own map and daily itinerary. Paper maps will be provided to you on the day.
Program resources
Learning outcomes
Victorian Curriculum 3-4
Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things (VCSSU057)
- Students will discover Australian animals and learn to identify the variations in their features and group them accordingly
Different living things have different life cycles and depend on each other and the environment to survive (VCSSU058)
- Students will learn about the life cycles of different Australian animals and how they depend on the environment to survive
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)
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Students will discover Aboriginal culture and how their way of living influenced the wildlife and land around them
Plan your excursion
Aboriginal Cultures and Country Year 3-4 is 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 Werribee Open Range Zoo via the Main Entrance. Organising teachers please check in with our Admissions team upon arrival. 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