VCAL for Community Conservation
VCAL for Community Conservation is here to support you in the creation of real community projects with your students so that together, we can help our local wildlife.
Program description
The VCAL for Community Conservation workshop at Melbourne Zoo is part of an over-arching Framework, curriculum linked at each step, which is outlined in the Teaching Guide. Students will take an in-depth look at Melbourne Zoo's Marine Response Unit (MRU) and hear how they respond to a variety of wildlife in distress, including those entangled in litter pollution. They will discover the tools Zoos Victoria utilises to engage visitors in their conservation projects which follow the model of Connect-Understand-Act. These tools can be used by students to promote their own conservation project within their communities. A project plan including roles and responsibilities will be determined during the workshop so that when students return to school, they can continue their work towards helping local wildlife.
Students will learn:
- How to apply Zoos Victoria’s Connect-Understand-Act tool in the design and delivery of their own community conservation projects.
- How to discuss the environmental issue of litter pollution and its impact on wildlife in their local community.
- About their Main Aim and will take responsibility for various tasks required to successfully complete their project.
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit and help them prepare for their project.
Connect and Understand
Students will have the opportunity to build their ideas, ask questions and solve potential problems with a Zoo Teacher during their excursion at Melbourne Zoo.
Your zoo visit will include: Zoo Teacher workshop (40 minutes), explore the zoo and attend 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. After developing and implementing their project back at school, students can share their achievements with Melbourne Zoo.
Act
Use the Teaching Guide to enable students to master their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.
Program maps
Your booking confirmation email will list your group's education workshop time/s. Digital maps will be provided to you on the day.
Program resources
Learning outcomes
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)
Foundation Unit 1:
Learning Outcome 1.0 (Elements 1.1, 1.2, 1.3) - Plan, organise and carry out a simple activity
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After deciding on the main aim for their project, students will develop a plan and each choose a role to focus on back at school
Learning Outcome 2.0 (Elements 2.1, 2.2) – Demonstrate knowledge specific to a simple activity
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Students will gain knowledge of how Zoos Victoria develops their conservation projects and use this information in the implementation of their own project within the school community
Learning Outcome 3.0 (Element 3.1) - Demonstrate skills specific to a simple activity
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Students will consider their personal and other skills when choosing the role they will focus on within their project
Foundation Unit 2:
Learning Outcome 2.0 (Element 2.2) – Plan and organise a simple activity
- Students will develop a plan for a project that addresses the environmental issue of litter pollution and each choose a role to focus on back at school
Learning Outcome 3.0 – Communicate information about a simple environmental, cultural or social activity within a community
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Melbourne Zoo is a rich source of information that students can tap into to help them develop a community project that addresses an environmental issue
Intermediate Unit 1:
Learning Outcome 1.0 (Element 1.1) - Plan, organise and carry out a complex activity or project
-
Students will develop a plan for a project that addresses the environmental issue of litter pollution and each choose a role to focus on back at school
Learning Outcome 2.0 (Elements 2.1, 2.2) - Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the context of a complex activity or project
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After deciding on the main aim, students will document a plan and begin to establish the requirements of their project
Learning Outcome 3.0 (Element 3.1) - Demonstrate self-management skills for goal achievement in the context of a complex activity or project
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Students will establish a plan to help them achieve their goals and develop a successful conservation project back at school
Intermediate Unit 2:
Learning Outcome 2.0 (Elements 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) - Plan and organise a complex activity or project concerning an environmental, cultural or social issue within
a community
- Students will gain an in depth understanding of the environmental issue of litter pollution and discuss strategies for how to address this issue
Learning Outcome 3.0 (Element 3.1) - Use a range of communication strategies to raise awareness of an environmental, cultural or social issue
within a community
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Melbourne Zoo is a rich source of information that students can tap into to help them develop a community project that addresses an environmental issue
Senior Unit 1:
Learning Outcome 1.0 (Elements 1.1) - Plan, organise and carry out a complex, self-directed project
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Students will develop a plan for a project that addresses the environmental issue of litter pollution and each choose a role to focus on back at school
Learning Outcome 2.0 (Element 2.4) - Evaluate the impact of environmental, cultural or social issues in a complex, self-directed project
- Students will gain in depth information of the environmental issue of litter pollution and use this knowledge in the planning of a community project to help address the issue
Senior Unit 2:
Learning Outcome 1.0 (Element 1.3) - Research, analyse and evaluate an environmental, cultural or social issue that affects members of a
community
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Melbourne Zoo is a rich source of information that students can tap into to support them in the development of a community project that addresses an environmental issue
Learning Outcome 2.0 (Elements 2.2, 2.3) - Establish or build on an external partnership to address or promote awareness of an environmental, cultural
or social issue in a community
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By focussing their project on addressing an environmental issue, students will be joining Zoos Victoria in their work to help wildlife and fight extinction
Plan your excursion
VCAL for Community Conservation 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 Melbourne Zoo via the Rail Gate 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. See the COVID-Safe information for schools before your visit.
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