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.

In this animal encounter experience, students engage in an intimate session meeting some fascinating native Australian animals, learning about their roles in the environment and their unique features and adaptations that help them thrive in the wild.

Students will join a Zoo Educator and set off on an exciting adventure from the Aussie bush, through a working farm environment, and into an urban backyard. They will discover how each place is unique and each has a special purpose. Students will understand how the features of living things impacts their needs and why it is important that people take care of them.

Students can learn so much by exploring living things in their own backyards. They will be challenged to apply their understanding of the needs of all living things and if they could provide help to living things in order to aide their survival. During the Taronga Zoo workshop, your students will meet a variety of native Australian animals. Many of these creatures are able to be found in their backyards, local parks, reserves or even in the schoolyard. Students will learn how to discover and identify common garden invertebrates and how to create habitats for local native animals.

A working farm combines technology and the environment to meet our everyday needs. Students will discover ways that animals and plants are grown for food and fibre production including traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, urban and commercial practices. This workshop also explores how the design features of our farm environment ensures a happy producer and a healthy meal, while discovering the many ways that animals help meet our fashion and functional needs.

Curiosity drives scientific discovery. Your students will get the opportunity to learn scientific skills as they interact with our habitat classroom. They will observe and learn about animal characteristics and behaviours that help them survive in the wild. They will conduct experiments and develop skills that will help them see the world like a scientist.

Students will learn how the features and needs of animals change and develop as they move from stage to stage. They will meet animals with unique lifecycles and investigate how they can help overcome the challenges these species face as they develop and grow.

In this workshop students will examine the climate, vegetation and native animals of Australia and Sumatra. They will learn about the importance of habitats for animals and people and discover the ways people value environments, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

In this fascinating workshop, students will develop a design brief for a new animal exhibit by undertaking research and observation of animals in Taronga’s care. They will learn about and consider animal welfare and enrichment, visitor engagement and interpretation, keeper safety and functionality.

Adaptations are remarkable features that have evolved in animals over millions of years to help them thrive in their environment. But what happens when that environment changes too rapidly? In this workshop, students will observe a range of animals’ adaptations and use stories from Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital as a case study in considering how adaptations are challenged by today's changing environments.

Observation drives scientific investigation. Central to scientific inquiry is the idea that we need evidence to be able to develop solid conclusions. In this workshop students work as scientists exploring the Key Inquiry Question- How does observation instigate scientific investigation? 

In this workshop, students will investigate why classification is so important and how scientists group living things. They will draw connections between the structure and function of different animal groups to their classification, survival and reproduction. Through intimate animal encounters and keen observation, students will discover some amazing adaptations that give wildlife the edge for survival.