Animal Detectives: Features, Habitats and Needs

Program Overview

Young learners explore animals, habitats, dinosaurs and space through observation, discussion, drawing, movement, sorting and short written responses.

Students notice visible features, consider what living things need, identify patterns and communicate what they observe.

The program can use Australia, Arctic, Asia, Africa, Dinosaurs or Space. Teachers select the experience that best supports their classroom learning.

What to Expect

  • Observe animals, environments, dinosaurs or space scenes.
  • Identify visible features and patterns.
  • Ask and respond to simple questions.
  • Complete selected worksheet, drawing, sorting or movement activities.
  • Participate in a green screen photo or video experience.
  • Share observations with classmates and teachers.

  • Complete or revisit the student worksheet.
  • Create a labelled animal, habitat or space drawing.
  • Sort animals using visible characteristics.
  • Compare two animals or represented environments.
  • Share one observation and one new question.
  • Use reliable books or teacher-selected sources to investigate questions raised during the visit.

Year Level
Foundation–Year 2

Typical Visit Length
Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours

Final timing depends on group size, selected experiences and activity rotations.

Experiences
Australia, Arctic, Asia, Africa, Dinosaurs or Space

Includes
Guided experience, activity time, green screen experience and downloadable learning resources

Price
$20 per student
Teachers and support staff attend free

Sample Itinerary

This is an example only. Final times and rotations are confirmed for each booking.

Arrival and introduction — approximately 10–15 minutes

  • Welcome and venue guidance

  • Introduction to observation and discussion activities

  • Students divided into smaller rotation groups

Rotating activities — approximately 75–90 minutes

Groups rotate through activities such as:

  • guided Hologram Zoo exploration;

  • worksheet, observation or creative activity;

  • green screen photo or video experience; and

  • discussion or reflection time.

The number and length of rotations depend on group size and the experiences selected.

Group reflection and departure — approximately 10–15 minutes

  • Share observations

  • Identify questions for further investigation

  • Prepare students for departure

Curriculum Connections

This program provides selected links to the Victorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0 Science curriculum at Foundation to Level 2.

Science Understanding

Students have opportunities to:

  • identify and describe visible features of living things;

  • consider the food, water, shelter and space living things require;

  • compare living things and represented habitats; and

  • recognise that living things grow and change.

Science Inquiry

Students have opportunities to:

  • ask questions about familiar animals, environments and events;

  • make simple predictions;

  • participate in guided observations;

  • identify patterns and similarities; and

  • communicate ideas through speaking, drawing and writing.

The exact curriculum connections depend on the selected experience and are explained in its teacher guide.

The excursion supports classroom learning but does not cover the complete Foundation to Level 2 achievement standard.

Resources by Experience

Each download contains the student worksheet and teacher guide in editable Word and print-ready PDF formats.

 

Australia Resources
Arctic Resources
Asia Resources
Africa Resources
Dinosaurs Resources
Space Resources

Plan Your Excursion

Tell us your approximate group size, preferred dates, experience interests and any accessibility or sensory requirements.

We will help you select suitable experiences and confirm the visit structure.

 

Plan Your Excursion