Zoo staff member walks through the bush with his arm craned, with four young students who look up at him while listening on a sunny day.

STEM Years 3-4

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Year levels

Year 3, Year 4

Cost

See Plan Your Visit

Availability

Monday to Friday (during school term)

Themes

Animal Features, Animal Welfare, Ecosystems / Habitats, Endangered Species, STEM

Use STEM skills to design creative solutions for real-world wildlife challenges.

This Levels 3-4 Science and Design & Technologies program introduces students to STEM through real-world conservation challenges, using creativity, problem-solving and Design Thinking. Students research a specific wildlife conservation challenge, then return to school to work in small teams to design, prototype and test a solution. here is also an opportunity to submit student design ideas to zoo staff using Zoos Victoria's Padlet.

Students will learn
  • Animal features and how they change over time
  • How scientists and zoo keepers use STEM to support conservation
  • STEM skills including scientific observation, engineering and Design Thinking
  • Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
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, Kyabram Fauna Park and Melbourne Zoo, with each offering a different focus and experience.

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

Healesville (Sanctuary logo in eucalyptus teal).
Healesville Sanctuary

- Focus on the design of new nest boxes for local endangered wildlife
- Introduction for groups arriving 9:45-10:00am
- Workshop (40 minutes)
- Spirits of the Sky experience (30 minutes)

Teaching guide
Healesville Sanctuary map

 

Want to know more? Join an online Teacher Information Session.

"Kyabram" (Fauna Park logo in forest green).
Kyabram Fauna Park

- Focus on the design of enrichment for zoo animal welfare
- Introduction for groups
- Workshop (30 minutes)

Teaching guide
Workbook
Fauna Park map

 

Want to know more? Join an online Teacher Information Session.

"Melbourne" (Zoo logo in botanical green).
Melbourne Zoo

- Focus on the design of enrichment for zoo animal welfare
- Introduction for groups arriving 9:40-10:00am
- Workshop (80 minutes)

Teaching guide
Melbourne Zoo map and itinerary

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 now

When 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