Background

Most of the electricity in Victoria comes from burning brown coal. Coal is a fossil fuel. Coal produces vast quantities of carbon dioxide which is contributing to the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change. The answer lies in finding renewable sources of energy to provide us with clean electricity. One such source is solar power.

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary.

This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Key Learning Question

How can we best capture energy from the sun?

Background

The message of reduce, reuse and recycle is an important one for students to learn early. This will help them to develop good habits when it comes to disposing of any rubbish. Students also need to make the link between using paper and destroying the environment.

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary. Can be a pre-visit, post-visit or stand-alone program.

Key Learning Question

How can we conserve Earth’s resources by recycling? 

Learning Intentions

In this program students will:

Background

Weather directly affects people. It determines how they dress, what they do and what they need to pack. Weather is a constantly changing set of phenomena and is easily observable. Even though meteorology includes some complex scientific study, it is a wonderful example of how scientists make predictions based on measurements and observations.

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary. This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Key Learning Question

How does weather affect our daily lives?

Background

Frogs need suitable land and freshwater habitats in order to survive. They have highly permeable skin that can easily absorb bacteria, chemicals and other toxins. These traits make them susceptible to changes in the environment and great indicators of the health of their habitat.

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge is required. This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Key Learning Question

How do the various adaptations help frogs survive in their environment?

Background

Seeds are dispersed in a number of ways. These include via the wind, bursting from a pod, eaten by animals, floating on water or getting caught on the fur or feathers of an animal. The structure of the seed determines how it is dispersed.

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary. This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Key Learning Question

Does the structure of a seed determine how it is dispersed?

Learning Intentions

In this program students will:

Background

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary. This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Background

• Arthropoda - insect, arachnid, myriapod, crustacean 
• Annelida - worm
• Mollusca - snail, slug

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge is required. This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Background

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge necessary. Can be taught as a previsit, post visit or stand alone program. This unit is also taught as an activity in some of our onsite programs.

Key Learning Question

What animals live in the compost bin and how can they recycle nutrients?