Exploring Ecosystems – Virtual Excursion

F-Y2: How are living things connected to one another? Why are non-living elements of an ecosystem important? What can we do to improve ecosystem health?

Y3-10: What is biodiversity and why is it so important to us? How do humans impact habitat health? What is the role of the community in keeping local ecosystems healthy?

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PLAN

FAQ

Program overview

Hosted by expert educators, students will develop their understanding of living and nonliving things and the impacts of human activities on an ecosystem through hands-on activities. Our educators will guide students through problem solving and action planning to create change within their school community and explore solutions to increase biodiversity at school or home.

Through this interactive virtual excursion your students will:

Years F – 2

Learn about different ecosystems throughout our world
Explore what an animal needs in its environment to survive
Consider how humans can care for local ecosystems

Years 3 – 10

Discover the link between rich biodiversity and healthy ecosystems
Explore ecosystem conservation through the lens of unique Australian wildlife
Consider past human impacts and future actions to increase biodiversity

You’ll receive a school teacher guide, including instructions for optional activities to do before and after your virtual excursion, and a Kahoot! Quiz.

Learning outcomes

Years F – 2

Students can identify living and nonliving things in an ecosystem
Students show a deeper connection to their own surrounds, whether it be in an urban or remote setting
Students are able to use critical thinking skills to assess a habitat for health.
Students can link human impacts to habitat health
Students can discuss the role of community in working to maintain healthy habitats and understand important future steps to maintain habitat health in their own area

Years 3 – 10

Students show a deeper connection to their own surrounds, whether it be in an urban or remote setting
Students understand the important elements of a healthy habitat
Students can identify why humans need a rich biodiverse planet
Students understand resources gained from ecosystems and impacts of unsustainable consumption
Students use critically analyse solutions to increasing ecosystem health
Students can discuss the role of community in working to maintain ecosystems and understand important future steps to maintain ecosystem health in their own area

Victorian curriculum links

This program links to curriculum areas of:
Science, Design & Technology, Geography, English, Civics & Citizenship, History, Intercultural Capabilities, Maths

Timetable and availability

Availability
Monday – Friday during the term

Virtual excursion logistics

How the virtual excursion will run:

We can use Zoom Video Conferencing to deliver the virtual learning sessions. If your school has a preferred platform (WebEx, Google Meets, MS Teams etc.) just let us know in your booking form
The session will open 5 minutes before the scheduled start
The session is live and interactive with a CERES Educator – we encourage students to have their video on and unmute when apporpriate
Q & A will be left open for students to communicate with CERES educators during the virtual excursion

What you’ll receive:

You will be sent a unique URL if we are using Zoom for your session
A school teacher guide, including instructions for optional activities to do before and after your virtual excursion

What you need for the session:

Tablet or mobile device – download the free Zoom app
PC, laptop or smartboard – allow the Zoom extension file download request
For in-school we recommend one smartboard and a minimum of 1 device per 3 students

Teaching guide

Use the activities in the Teaching Guide below to spark students’ curiosity before the virtual session and add value to your experience with CERES. It’s also designed to deepen students’ learning back at school. A guide to what a Kahoot! quiz is also included.

Foundation to Year 2 Teaching Guide
Years 3 to 6 Teaching Guide
Years 7 to 10 Teaching Guide
Years 11 to 12 Teaching Guide * coming soon
What is a Kahoot quiz?

Watch the following video to understand what CERES is all about and to get you and your students excited about your virtual excursion with us!