Wildlife sanctuary at St Monica’s Primary, Richmond
Kindergarten students at St Monica’s Primary, Richmond have been busy creating and managing a wildlife sanctuary to help them learn more about Australian wildlife.
After visiting the Featherdale Wildlife Park, the students decided to build the wildlife sanctuary for their ‘Staying Alive’ unit of work. The project provided an opportunity for the students to explore and investigate different Australian animals through problem solving, design, co-operative learning, visual arts and role play.
All the animals in the sanctuary were designed and made by the Kindergarten students and included a cassowary, emu, koala, peacock, kangaroos, pythons, lizards, a crocodile in safety enclosure, and a cockatoo as well as other birds.
At the entrance to the sanctuary, a ‘receptionist’ was there to answer telephone enquiries and sell tickets to visitors on arrival. A ‘gamekeeper’ then took visitors on a guided tour of the sanctuary, talking about each animal and their habitats including the type of foods they eat and the way they live.
After making their way through the wildlife sanctuary, visitors ended up at a café where they could choose from a range of ‘refreshments’ served by the students.
Students changed roles every so often so they could each spend time in a different section of the sanctuary.
Kindergarten teacher, Sue Pols said the project provided students with a number of learning opportunities within the curriculum.
‘We wanted the students to identify ways in which living things are different and have different needs,’ said Sue.
‘Our task provided an opportunity for all students to explore and to be engaged in their own learning through a variety of different mediums.’
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