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Perth Zoo
The objective of this experience is to provide a unique, interactive environmental education program about Little Penguins. The "Cool Penguins" program helps students to achieve outcomes under the Life and Living strand of Science and the Natural and Social Systems strand of Society and Environment. It also promotes a conservation message, which can be linked to values outcome Environmental Responsibility.
The session starts at the Little Penguins exhibit with an Education Officer led discussion about the fascinating adaptations and life of Little Penguins. Students then move to a shaded area where they are divided into six small groups. Each group is given a "Penguin Danger Bag" containing a scenario card and relevant props that students use to investigate the effects of human activities on penguins and their habitats. As a group, students read the scenario card and discuss the implications their scenario's activities may have on Little Penguins and their fragile habitats.
When each small group has finished their discussion, the class is gathered together for a whole group discussion. Each group shares their story with the rest of the class using their props. The implications of their group's actions are discussed as well as ways that each group could have ensured penguin/habitats safety.
The lesson is then concluded by reinforcing the following positive behaviours:
- don’t throw rubbish away, particularly plastics
- discuss problems of dogs, foxes, and cats on wildlife
- discuss problems with oil slicks
- care of dunes
- problems with fishing lines.
Years 4-7.
40-50 minutes.
AU$8.00 per student (includes Zoo admission).
Approximately AU$100-200 to develop six "Danger Bags" consisting of a scenario/story card, and several supporting props such as fishing line, fishing hooks, fishing nets, a toy oil tanker, a shark etc. It is useful to have a Little Penguin’s exhibit to start the lesson off, but another option would be to use a visual aid.
Cool Penguins is featured in the Perth Zoo website: www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au. It is also featured in the Society and Environment Learning Area Overview brochure that is sent to all schools. The experience has also been advertised in ‘School Matters’, a government newspaper for all school teachers. Word of mouth has also been a very effective means of marketing this product.
This program requires one Education Officer to conduct the experience.
This education experience was initially designed for the opening of the Little Penguins exhibit.
Little Penguin biofacts and six "Danger Bags" which include:
- six drawstring calico bags with penguin motif on each
- plastic lunchbox
- plastic bags
- plastic ring tops
- toy dog
- fishing lines and hooks
- fish oil in bottle
- jar of sand
- toy truck
- toy motor bike
- two toy boats – 1 speedboat and 1 boat labelled tanker.
Participants in this program receive the standard Living Links Evaluation that is used for all Perth Zoo educational experiences. The program has always enjoyed very strong and enthusiastic support from teachers and parents at the end of each class.
Perth Zoo Education Ph: +61 8 94740365.
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