Oral history is central to Aboriginal culture and Dreaming Stories are an integral part of Aboriginal life. These stories are used to pass on knowledge and skills to children and adults alike. During the workshop, students will listen to Dreaming Stories about various animals and learn more about the importance of these stories. They will learn about the ways in which Aboriginal People have lived on the land, using native flora and fauna to hunt and gather, making tools and shelter.

During this workshop, students have the opportunity to get up close to a range of native Australian animals and learn about their needs for survival. Students will discover some of their amazing structural and behaviour features and how these adaptations help them to survive throughout their life.

During this workshop students will meet a range of native Australian animals and explore the natural areas of Taronga Western Plains Zoo to discover built and natural habitats. Students will learn how different places provide for the needs of living things and how they can help by creating habitat for wildlife.

This workshop is a unique, guided walking tour of the Taronga Western Plains Zoo site. Students will engage with Dreaming stories and cultural learnings while highlighting the strong connections between Aboriginal people and the natural world.

In this workshop students will meet a range of Australian animals and compare their life cycles. They will discover how they can support the various needs of animals as they move through the different stages of their life cycle.

In this workshop students will examine the unique features of Australian and Sumatran habitats and meet some animals that depend on these environments. Students will discover the ways people value and conserve environments, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. They will learn how their everyday consumer choices impact critical environments across the globe. While in grounds, a visit to the Wild Asian Wetlands is valuable to reinforce the concepts discussed in this workshop.

When designing zoo exhibits, Taronga aims to reproduce each animals natural environment. In this workshop students will learn about how the behavioural and physiological needs of an animal are the primary consideration in designing their enclosure. They will examine how animal welfare, enrichment, keeper safety, budget, visitor engagement and sustainability also significantly inform the design process and discover the range of styles that characterise modern exhibit design.

Populations of organisms do not remain constant; the number of individuals can increase and decrease over time. Predator and prey relationships contribute to these changes.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is trialing a new inquiry-based mathematics program in which students will develop their working mathematical skills in a real-life context that is both meaningful and engaging.

In this workshop students will explore the classification system used to identify animals and reasons for classifying organisms. They will meet some amazing native animals and develop their ability to group living organisms according to a variety of common features. Each animal’s structural and behavioural adaptations will be discussed and how they help the species survive in the harsh Australian environment.

In this workshop students will develop an appreciation of the causes, consequences and management of deforestation taking place in Australia and Sumatra. They will examine how differing worldviews influence the importance people place on natural habitats and the environmental management strategies used in each country. They will feel empowered as they discover ways individuals can contribute to sustainability.

In this workshop students will engage with live animals to understand biological diversity and how it is achieved through Natural Selection. They will discuss examples of evidence that support evolution. Students will discover how adaptations increase an organism’s chance of survival and will explore the impacts that selection pressures have on population dynamics.