Habitats, Features and Life Cycles F-2
Students will become wild explorers for the day, learning about what makes animals special and how they can care for animals and their homes.
Program description
In this fun-filled and educational day out at the zoo, students will become wild explorers and learn how they can respect and care for animals. They will engage their senses and exercise their inquiring minds to learn about what makes animals special and uncover animals' features, habitats, life cycles and what they need to survive.
By the end of their mission into the wild, students will understand how special our animals are, how to care for them, the environment and how they can contribute to a sustainable future.
Students will learn:
- How to respect and care for animals
- The unique features and needs of various animal species
- How animals grow and change
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 students’ curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Students will have the chance to hear unique insights and discover what makes animals so amazing. With a Zoo Teacher, students have the opportunity to find out about animal features, habitats, survival needs, life cycles through inquiry learning, unique zoo-based resources and guided discussions.
Your zoo visit will include: An introduction to the day (for arrivals between 9:40am – 10am), Zoo Teacher workshop (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 map and itineraries
Your booking confirmation email will list your group's education workshop time/s. Each workshop time has its own map and suggested daily itinerary. Digital 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)
- Through Zoo Teacher led discussions, animal observation and play-based learning students are able to explore animal features, habitats and survival needs
Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (VCSSU043)
- Students will explore animal life cycles and the characteristics of living and non-living things through Zoo Teacher led discussions, animal observations and unique zoo-based resources
Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)
- Students will be encouraged to engage their senses: listening, observing, smelling and touching in order to explore living and non-living things, this will be supported through storytelling, Zoo Teacher led discussions, animal observation and guided outdoor investigations
Plan your excursion
This porgram 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.
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