Habitats, Features and Life Cycles F-2
Students are immersed in a habitat shared with animals and are encouraged to explore using their senses to uncover how living things grow, change and survive in nature.
Program description
This program promotes learning through exploration, self-managed risk, discovery and observation. Students will uncover how living things grow, change and survive in nature. While at the zoo, students will explore Habitat Haven using their senses and open-ended play-based activities.
Students will learn:
- The basic needs of living things
- Animal life cycles
- Interdependence between animals and their habitat
- How to use curiosity, wonder, imagination and questioning
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Students are supported to use all their senses and play-based learning as they explore Habitat Haven and determine what living things need to survive. Students will be immersed amongst wildlife and habitats as you explore Werribee Open Range Zoo.
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 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 participate in a range of activities within a habitat, which help them to understand that plants and animals require food, water and shelter to survive
Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (VCSSU043)
- Students will have opportunities to explore the life cycles of various living things in Habitat Haven and in the classroom
Plan your excursion
This program 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