Nature Play the Wurundjeri Way
Engage your senses in nature! Explore Aboriginal culture and learn about Australian wildlife through play and discovery at Healesville Sanctuary.
Program description
In Nature Play the Wurundjeri Way, children will ignite their curiosity and use their senses to explore, play and connect with the natural world. They will discover what makes this land unique and why Healesville Sanctuary is special to the Wurundjeri people.
Children will exercise their enquiring minds as they interact with Aboriginal artefacts, listen to dreaming stories, explore simple Woiwurrung language and learn about Wurundjeri connections to plants and wildlife.
Children will learn:
- About Aboriginal culture and Wurundjeri connections to the land
- How to appreciate, respect and care for living and non-living things
- How to explore the natural environment using all of their senses
- About the unique habitats of Australian animals
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 children’s curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Through guided discussions and exploration at Healesville Sanctuary, children will learn about how animals, plants and people are all connected and how to care for the environment – just as the Wurundjeri people do.
Your zoo visit will include: Introduction (for arrivals between 9:50am-10:10am), Healesville Sanctuary Teacher-led activities, Spirits of the Sky presentation 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 children’s learning back at school.
Act
Use the Teaching Guide to enable children to master their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.
Program resources
Learning outcomes
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)
- Children will use self-directed play based learning to explore Aboriginal culture, discover animals and their habitats and develop their respect and love for the natural environment.
- Children will be supported to work collaboratively in safe, outdoor, natural play spaces and make new discoveries about the interconnectedness of the land, plants, animals and Wurundjeri culture.
- Children will use their senses to connect with living and non-living things in the natural environment and explore how the Wurundjeri people used different tools, techniques and shared dreaming stories.
Plan your excursion
Nature Play the Wurundjeri Way is an outdoor all-weather program; the children will need appropriate clothing for weather conditions. This could include a raincoat, hat and sun protection.
School groups will enter Healesville Sanctuary via the Main Entrance. Organising teachers please check in with our Admissions team upon arrival. More information.
All onsite excursion bookings are subject to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions and as such are subject to change in line with the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s advice. We will be in contact with all teachers prior to their booked date if we need to clarify any new requirements.
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