Fascinating Flying Foxes is an approx. 1.5 hr Stage 2 incursion focusing on the Geography Topic ‘The Earth’s Environment’. The program also compliments the DoE’s cross curricular program ‘Tears in the Jungle’, by focussing on a local threatened species.
During this program, students will investigate the importance of natural vegetation to animals and people, including sustainable practices that protect environments, with a particular focus on Flying Foxes. They will participate in a number of hands-on activities, designed to increase understanding and awareness about this threatened species.
Key inquiry questions
- How does the environment support the lives of people and other living things?
- How do different views about the environment influence approaches to sustainability?
- How can people use places and environments more sustainably?
Key syllabus outcomes
- examines features and characteristics of places and environments GE2-1
- describes the way people, places and environments interact GE2-2
- examines differing perceptions about the management of places and environments GE2-3
Experiments with a variety of media in selected froms VAES1.2
And the Cross Curriculum Priorities and General Capabilities of Sustainability, Literacy & Personal and Social Capability.
Skills outcomes
During the program students will:
- Aquire, process and communicate geographical information
On the day activities
During the incursion, students will:
- Participate in an interactive presentation about the features, needs and threats of Flying Foxes.
- Observe preserved flying fox specimens up close to understand their features and adaptations for surviving in their habitats.
- Create an artwork of a flying fox.
- Plant a seed in a paper pot to take home (or plant at school), to help local environments to support greater biodiversity.
Previsit and follow up resources
Pre visit activities
Activities prior to the delivery of the program will help prepare students for the day as well as link the program to the class program. This program compliments the Department of Education's Cross Curricular Program Tears in the Jungle but can also be undertaken as a stand-alone incursion.
These could include:
- Discussing terms associated with the environment such as native Australian animals, habitats or animal homes, pollution, litter and recycling.
- Exploring school gardens as habitats for birds and native animals.
- Explaining to students the importance of caring for school gardens and bushland by not playing in them or walking through them.
- Identifying some ways people can change the environment that can have a positive or negative impact on wildlife.
This program compliments the Department of Education's Cross Curricular Program Tears in the Jungle but can also be undertaken as a stand-alone incursion.
Follow up activities
- Discuss students’ responsibility to help with and care for our natural resources and the environment and roles that could be introduced e.g. energy monitors, water monitors, green team or recycling etc.
- If appropriate, establish a class garden or have a fund raiser to purchase a bird bath or have a frog pond installed.
- Organise a school grounds working bee with parents.
- Compile a collage of student’s artwork.
Pre and Post visit Resources PDF 86KB
Cost
- DoE - $10 per student (GST free).
- Non Government School $15 per student (GST free). Minimum cost of $600.
Incursion program downloads
Download these documents to help with your incursion planning: