Classification and Adaptations Year 7-8
Students will develop their understanding of animal adaptations and classification by examining skull specimens, biological artefacts and zoo animals.
Program description
It’s much easier to grasp the concepts of classification and adaptations when you’re up close and personal with a Snow Leopard’s skull and other artefacts…
In Classification and Adaptations Year 7-8, students will learn valuable observation and classification skills to organise animals into groups based on shared characteristics.
With student and teacher resources to enhance the learning experience before, during and after your zoo visit, Animal Classification and Adaptations brings the science of the animal kingdom to life. Students will be challenged to classify animals, determine what adaptations they have to help them survive and what threats they are facing in the wild. By understanding what animals require to thrive in the wild, students will learn how they can adapt their behaviour to ensure species survival.
Students will learn:
- How to observe the structural and behavioural adaptations of animals to group and classify animals in various ways
- About the food webs and food chains animals need to thrive in their environment
- The impact of humans on places, habitats and ecosystems
Can’t make it to one of our zoos? Our Digital Program gives you direct access to your own expert Zoo Teacher and unique zoo content. Location is no longer a barrier.
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Analyse skulls, explore artefacts and visit zoo exhibits to understand the complex world of animal classification and adaptation. Students can use their newfound understanding of animal classification to organise the diversity of the animal kingdom at Melbourne Zoo. Students will learn how their understanding of animal adaptations and classification can help them to save wildlife.
Your zoo visit will include: Introduction (for arrivals between 9:40am – 10am), Zoo Teacher workshop (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 time/s. Each workshop time has its own map and suggested daily itinerary. Digital maps will be provided to you on the day.
Program resources
Learning outcomes
Victorian Curriculum 7-8
There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity (VCSSU091)
- Students will learn about classification systems and, through facilitated observations of organisms living and once living, note the differences and classify in a range of ways
Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs and can be affected by human activity (VCSSU093)
- Students will learn about the fragile nature of food webs, the roles of predators, prey and primary consumers and how humans can have a positive and negative environmental impact on these
Identify, analyse and explain interconnections within places and between places and identify and explain changes resulting from these interconnections (VCGGC101)
- Students will learn about the impact of humans on places, habitats and ecosystems and what effect these impacts may have
Plan your excursion
Classification and Adaptations Year 7-8 and Adaptations 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 Melbourne Zoo via the Rail Gate 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