Cultures and Connection to Place Foundation Year 2

This Foundation–Level 2 Geography and Science program explores how people connect to places, living things and environments, and how culture shapes the way communities care for the world around them.

At Healesville Sanctuary, students will explore Aboriginal connections to Country through play-based learning, guided by an Aboriginal Education Officer. Through observation, movement and Dreamtime storytelling, students will learn about seasons, animal life cycles and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of caring for Country.

At Werribee Zoo, students will explore life in a rural African village and learn how people live alongside wildlife in their everyday lives. Through stories, role-play and reflection, students will compare life in Australia with life in rural Africa and consider how communities care for people, places and animals.

Students will learn

• How people are connected to places, animals and the environment
• Ways cultures share knowledge through stories, song and everyday practices
• Basic needs, features and life cycles of animals
• How living things depend on each other and their environment
• How people care for places and wildlife in different communities

Support for teachers

• Great day at the zoo - access to trails and scheduled keeper talks 
• Teacher resources with classroom and excursion activities
• Pre-visit information to support planning and preparation
• Opportunity to celebrate learning and become a Fighting Extinction School

Choose your zoo experience

This program is delivered at Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo, with each offering a different focus and experience.

Teaching guides include more information about the excursion experience and curriculum links.