Running a Zoo
Your students will combine their learning of STEM and Business through real-life scenarios. This program is part of the STEM Design Challenge 2019 (Terms 3 and 4).
Introducing Werribee Open Range Zoo's STEM Design Challenge 2019: Running a Zoo.
Running a zoo is incredible, but it's not always easy! There is a lot to balance – the health of animals, the wellbeing of staff, conservation action and the experience for visitors. Managers are always searching for creative ideas that ensure that Werribee Open Range Zoo succeeds in its business and conservation goals.
The STEM Design Challenge is a unique education program that enables Year 7-8 students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios.
In Terms 3 and 4, Werribee Open Range Zoo has one very pressing problem for your students to solve:
- Managers need new ideas that help them continue to keep people safe and provide a fun experience for visitors
When you visit Werribee Open Range Zoo, your students will learn about the complexities of Zoo management. An educator will model how to find problems around the Zoo and share behind-the-scenes stories. Students will explore the Zoo to conduct their research and start to think about solutions.
Back at school, students will work in teams of up to six people and choose one of the big challenges to focus on. The Teaching Guide will help you teach using an engineering framework called Design Thinking. Design Thinking assists student teams to quickly turn their ideas into projects and prototypes.
You don’t need a STEM lab or special materials to teach this fun and innovative challenge. Some teachers use this program to teach a whole-term unit while others use it as a special 2-3 week program – the choice is yours!
After completing their prototypes, students can also enter the STEM Design challenge competition. Entries close on Friday 15 November 2019.
| Activity | Duration |
| Welcome and introduction to your day (arrivals between 9.50am – 10.05am) | 10 minutes |
| Workshop with Werribee Open Range Zoo teacher | 30 minutes |
| Safari bus tour | 40 minutes |
| Keeper presentations | 30 minutes |
| Zoo research | 1-2 hours |
Program resources
Learning outcomes
Explain the reasons why and the ways in which individuals and businesses set, prioritise and plan to achieve financial and organisational goals (VCEBC014)
- Students will learn about the organisational goals of Werribee Zoo and how these are used to make decisions on site
Explore and observe the characteristics of entrepreneurs and successful businesses (VCEBB015)
- Students will become familiar with the services that Werribee Zoo provides the community and the environment
Generate, develop and test design ideas, plans and processes using appropriate technical terms and technologies including graphical representation techniques (VCDSCD050)
- Students will use Design Thinking to generate, grow and test their ideas
Consider how problems can be segmented into discrete stages, new knowledge synthesised during problem-solving and criteria used to assess emerging ideas and proposals (VCCCTM042)
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Students will seek out problems and synthesise their thinking to develop their own creative solutions
Perform in a variety of team roles and accept responsibility as a team member and team leader, assessing how well they support other members of the team (VCPSCSO041)
- Back in the classroom, students will be working in groups of up to 6 people and will be expected to collaborate during the Design Thinking process
Plan your excursion
Bring what students need to record their research e.g. written notes, drawings, photographs, voice memos, short videos, diagrams. They will also need to dress for the weather.
The organising teacher should make themselves known to Admission Staff via the Members Express Lane to arrange payment. More information
You will need the following to book your excursion:
- Education program of your choice
- Preferred excursion date
- School name and address
- Contact details of organising teacher
- Number of students/classes and their year level