|
Offsite Education Experiences
Orang-utan Browse Plantation Project
Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo’s Discovery and Learning have put together a project with our Horticulture department to develop, build and coordinate sustainable partnerships with interested schools. The aim of the project is to grow appropriate browse plants for regular harvesting for the zoo’s orang-utans.
This project supports teachers and students in planning authentic, student-centred learning experiences that are community oriented and address biodiversity issues in local and global environments. It can also engage teachers in quality professional learning programs and students in project-based investigations of important issues surrounding orang-utans and biodiversity within ecosystems.
Whilst participating in the project students and teachers can:
- Develop practical horticulture skills in site preparation, planting and maintenance
- Leverage off their practical experience and support local conservation efforts, thus translating their learning into actions with tangible community results.
- Extend their learning and explore global habitat issues through participating in the learning experience ‘Planet Keeper – Sumatra’ at the Melbourne Zoo, using orang-utans as their flagship species. Thus students and teachers gain a greater understanding of environmental issues, building awareness of socially responsible attitudes and behaviours.
Audience: Primary and Secondary Schools (mainly Years 4 - 10).
Initial 2-year commitment, continuing as ongoing sustainable project.
Costs of site preparation, plants and ongoing maintenance of plantation at school. Students attending zoo lesson, ‘Planet Keeper’ - $12.50.
Education Officer time to develop and manage project.
Individual discussions with interested schools. Eventually on-line, education conferences and professional learning opportunities.
One Education Officer acting as coordinator and facilitator.
Melbourne Zoo Horticulture Department and Primate Keepers.
Teachers notes and fact sheets.
Annual Evaluation by school and project coordinator.
Shelley Waldon, Phone: +61-3-92859341, email: swaldon@zoo.org.au.
 Online Education Experiences
Onsite Education Experiences
Offsite Education Experiences
ARAZPA Education Policy
|