A silhouette of three students as they look into a blue tank of water with a fur seal in the swimming in the distance

Conditions for Survival Year 5-6

Year levels

Year 5, Year 6

Cost

See Plan Your Visit 

Availability

Monday to Friday (during school term)

Themes

Ecosystems / Habitats, Human Impact, Resource Management, Sustainability

Students will investigate how the physical conditions of the environment affect the growth and survival of living things and how they are interconnected. They will develop an understanding of how to create positive change in their local community.

Program description

This program supports students in considering how the physical conditions of an environment affect the growth and survival of living things. Students will develop their understanding of how changes in the environment impact a species, how these changes have a flow-on effect throughout an ecosystem and develop science skills that will enable them to positively influence their local community.

Students will learn:

  • How physical conditions of the environment affect the growth and survival of living things
  • The importance of interconnections within an ecosystem
  • The science inquiry skills that will enable students to have a positive influence within their local community

Program sequence

Before your visit

Connect   

Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit. 

During your visit

Connect and Understand 

Students will discover how the physical environment of a species can affect its growth and survival and how changes within this environment can impact all the species living in it. Students will be provided with the opportunity to develop science skills that will allow them to positively impact their local community and delve into real-life conservation issues.

Your zoo visit will include: A welcome to the day (for arrivals between 9.40 – 10.00 time am), Zoo Teacher workshop (40 minutes) and keeper talks. Check out your Teaching Guide for other ideas on what to do at the zoo.

After your visit

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 maps 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 5-6

Science

Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (VCSSU074)

  • Students will explore how animals use their features and adaptations to help them survive in freshwater and saltwater environments

The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (VCSSU075)

  • Students will explore how changes within a species’ physical environment can affect its growth and survival
  • Students will explore how the changes within the physical environment of a species have a flow-on effect on other species also living in that environment.

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. 

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 now

You 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