Early Childhood
Through song, story and nature play pedagogy, children will explore the natural world and experience ways to care for the environment and animals.
Program description
This program nurtures children’s love and care for wildlife. Set in our engaging outdoor learning space, children will have their senses engaged and their love, connection, curiosity and custodianship towards nature and local wildlife celebrated.
Children will learn:
- Knowledge of, appreciation and respect for natural environments
- Interdependence between land, people, plants and animals
- Awareness of the impact of human activity on environments and living things
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the teaching guide (below) to spark children's curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Through song, story and nature play pedagogy, children will explore the natural world and experience ways to care for the environment and animals.
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 Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)
- Children will learn ways to care for the environment and contribute to a sustainable future
Plan your excursion
This program is an outdoor all-weather program; children 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