Special Development Schools
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Explore how zoos care for animals in a safe and supportive learning environment.
This non-curriculum aligned program offers Special Development School students the opportunity to learn about animal care at the zoo through flexible, adaptive experiences. Through guided activities and observation, students explore animal features, needs and enrichment, with learning tailored to support individual interests, abilities and comfort levels.
Students will learn
- Animal body features
- Animal needs and homes
- How to care for animals and local wildlife
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 Melbourne Zoo 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.
Melbourne Zoo
- Focus on how to care for animals
- Introduction for groups arriving 9:40-10:00am
- Workshop (40 minutes)
Teaching guide
Sensory map
Social story
Accessibility information
Melbourne Zoo map and itinerary
Werribee Open Range Zoo
- Focus on how to care for animals
- Introduction for groups arriving 9:45-10:00am
- Workshop (30 minutes)
- Safari Bus (40 minutes)
Teaching guide
Sensory map
Social story
Accessibility information
Werribee Open Range Zoo map
Itinerary for 10:10am workshop
Itinerary for 10:50am workshop
Itinerary for 11:30am workshop
Itinerary for 12:10pm workshop
Planning your visit
The Plan Your Visit page has costings, risk assessments, payment information, travel details, sensory maps and social stories.
Your excursion will be outdoors. Please ask your students to dress for the weather.
Book your education experience
Use the online form to book your visit.
Make booking nowWhen you book, please include:
- Name of program
- Preferred date/s
- School name and address
- Contact details of organising teacher
- Number of students/classes and year level