Lesson 8: Excursion to Taronga Zoo - Living
with invertebrates and life cycles
Stage 2 Duration: 1hr
Objective: For children to explore invertebrates living in their homes and backyards and to develop an appreciation and a greater understanding of their place in the environment and their habitats by developing the knowledge, skills to appreciate and understand the world of invertebrates and ways to protect their habitats (Taronga Zoo, 2013).
Curriculum Links
Science and Technology K-6:
CONTENT STRAND: Living Things LT S2.3. Identifies & describes the structure and function of living things and ways in which living things interact with other living things and their environment. INDICATORS: observes and reports on insects in a local environment, and their contribution to the environment LEARNING PROCESSES: Investigating INV S2.7. Conducts guided investigations by observing, questioning, predicting, collecting & recording data, & suggesting possible explanations. VALUES AND ATTITUDES: VA2. Exhibits curiosity & responsiveness to scientific & technological ideas & evidence. KLA LINKS: HSIE - CUS2.4 ENGLISH - RS2.5 |
Australian Curriculum:
OUTCOME: ST2-10LW Describes that living things have life cycles, can be distinguished from non-living things and grouped, based on their observable features CONTENT: ACSSU073 Living things, including plants and animals, depend on each other and the environment to survive INDICATORS: Gathers information about some relationships between living things, e.g. predator-prey, competitors and mutually beneficial relationships. KLA LINKS: ENGLISH - EN2-8B |
Key Scientific Knowledge
- Insects perform a vast number of important functions in our ecosystem (Warren, 2002).
- If insects were to disappear, humanity and most other life forms, would also become extinct because of the domino effect that would occur in the food chain (Wilson, 2010).
- All insects are invertebrates.
- All living things are placed into groups depending on common characteristics. The animal kingdom is divided into vertebrates and invertebrates (CSIRO, 2013).
- Invertebrates have no backbone, unlike animals such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals who all have a backbone.
More information can be obtained from:
- www.ento.csiro.au/education/index.html and
- www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/030402t_insects.jhtml
Overview of Excursion
Time
10:00
. 10:30am
(1 hour) 11:30 12:00 1:30 |
Itineray
Arrive at the zoo & have morning tea.
Insecta Inspectors Workshop
Taronga staff will lead a presentation to provide children with knowledge and skills to appreciate and understand the amazing world of invertebrates and their habitats. The information delivered demonstrates to children the importance of minibeasts / Invertebrates in the environment (Taronga Zoo, 2013). This excursion will help bring together what the children have learned throughout the term in regards to life cycles and how they rely on each other in an intertwined ecosystem. Lunch - Children bring their own lunch. Explore other areas of the Zoo Children will break into small groups of 3-4 with either a teacher or parent helper to explore other areas of the zoo. Children encouraged to visit ‘Reptile World’ (Map Ref K12 exhibit No.1) to see other turtles in their habitats and view turtles in different stages of their life cycle. Children board bus to return to school |
Prior to Excursion
Bookings essential for the workshop. To visit the website to make bookings: click here.
Children may bring their own digital cameras to take pictures. |
Resources for Learning and Teaching
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