THE WERRIBEE OPEN
RANGE ZOO
MONKEY HABITAT
HUMAN PLAYGROUND REPLICA
"We try to replicate the activity that the animals do. The monkeys climb along horizontal structures so we want the kids to do that too. It really activates their core muscles as they have to balance" (Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo).
GORILLA HABITAT
"Students can practise their balancing skills while exploring the habitat as a gorilla would. They come to a better understanding of what it is like to be a gorilla"
(Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo).
HUMAN PLAYGROUND REPLICA
'The Habitat Garden': Kingergarten - Grade Two
This outdoor classroom is designed for inquiry based learning. This particular photo shows the space where students are invited to design and build an effective shelter for an animal. They are encouraged to use the loose materials. In order to prevent injury or bites from insects, students are told to 'not put their hands where they cannot see' (Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo).
Areas in the classroom have signs that prompt critical thinking. This sign contained the following; 'We are starting to get the pond ready for frogs to live in it. What would the frogs need here to survive?' (Werribee Open Range Zoo).
The outdoor classroom has three invisible boundaries. This is the fourth boundary where there is an accessible exit that the students could leave from. The Werribee Open Range Zoo staff deal with this potential risk by setting expectations with the students at the beginning of each lesson. The students are told not to go past the 'blue giraffe' (Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo). The staff also strategically place teachers and parents close to the exit to ensure students are supervised in these areas. "We have never had any students leave the designated area through this exit" (Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo).
'The Australian Journey': Grade Three - Year Twelve
The Australian Journey is a grassland exhibit that is home to kangaroo's and emu's. It is a large area where fences can not be used to create boundaries for students as they would restrict the animals from having free range of their grassland. The rope acts as a boundary guide that the animals can walk over. Obviously, students could also walk over the rope. Phoebe Lynch states that "If i stand in front of the rope and ask students not to pass me, they do not. I am the barrier to the grasslands. We need the rope to be low so that the animals can pass through" (Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo).
This is where the VCE students investigate species within one square metre. It is a large open space with no shade. Phoebe Lynch stressed the importance of calling shade and water breaks to avoid students suffering heat stroke. "I always model seeking shade and drinking water to encourage students to utilise the opportunity" (Phoebe Lynch, Education Officer, Werribee Open Range Zoo). Schools are also advised to wear appropriate clothing to protect students against the weather conditions on the day.
