STEM Year 7-8
Students will use their STEM knowledge and skills to create new and improved habitat design to support the welfare of animals at Kyabram Fauna Park.
Program description
In this Fighting Extinction Schools program, Year 7-8 students will use their STEM knowledge and skills to design habitat for zoo animals. The keepers at Kyabram Fauna Park are looking for new habitat ideas to support the mental and physical wellbeing of their animals. The designs will enable animals to live and experience life as close to their natural habitat as possible.
Students will work with a Zoo Teacher to undertake research and learn more about the animal they will be designing for. Back at school, students will work in small teams to build a prototype and test an idea. They can also share their designs with zoo keepers.
Students will learn:
- About the features of Zoo animals
- How keepers use STEM to support animal welfare
- STEM skills such as scientific observation and engineering
- Creating thinking and problem-solving skills
Program sequence
Connect
Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit.
Connect and Understand
Students will use their scientific observation skills to deepen their understanding of animals and their care at Kyabram Fauna Park.
Your zoo visit includes: An introduction to the day, Zoo Teacher workshop (30 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
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 Curriculum 7-8
Science(VCSSU090)
- Students will learn that Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations
Science (VCSSU091)
- Students will understand that there are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity
Design and technology (VCDSCD050)
- Students will generate, develop, and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques
Critical and Creative Thinking (VCCCTM042)
- Students will consider how problems can be segmented into discrete stages, new knowledge synthesised during problem-solving, and criteria used to assess emerging ideas and proposals
Plan your excursion
This program is an outdoor all-weather program; the students will need appropriate clothing for weather conditions. This could include a raincoat, hat and sun protection.
Bring what students need to record their research e.g. notes, drawings, photographs, videos, voice memos, diagrams.
School groups will enter Kyabram Fauna Park via the Education Entrance Gate. Organising teachers, please check in with our Visitor Experience team upon arrival.
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