A hands on learning experience

At Nowra Wildlife Park (NWP) we offer an informative and exciting Educational Program that not only enhances students’ knowledge and understanding of Australian animals and the ways in which they interact with the environment, but also provides tailor made lessons that cater for all Key Learning Areas.

Our Education package offers a curriculum based lesson that uses hands on learning approaches to stimulate children’s interest and encourage learning. By incorporating the curriculum’s main guiding principles we are able to offer an education experience that benefits both the students and their teachers.

Throughout their journey around the park children are given ample opportunities to investigate the animals through both hands on interaction and observation of them in a variety of natural or man made habitats allowing them to extend their current knowledge in a variety of Key Learning Areas.

Our Education officer caters for both individual and group learning styles by providing a wide variety of learning strategies including conversation style two way communication and sensory involvement. Students are encouraged to ask questions throughout the lessons and use their own thought processes to answer various questions. This will enable them to build their current knowledge status and begin to make concrete connections to what they have learnt prior to their visit.

Our Education officer determines students current knowledge status prior to visiting Nowra Wildlife Park through verbal and written consultation with the organising teacher. This information is then used to produce a lesson that suits individual class requirements and developmental levels. Our informative and exciting lessons will stimulate students interest, and encourage learning in a happy and relaxed atmosphere.

By incorporating important elements of each Key Learning Area into the basic lesson structure we are able to extend and refine students skills in the following ways:

English
Through verbal interaction and open communication the Education officer and students are able to share knowledge and experiences that will enrich their learning experience. Students are encouraged to listen attentively to the Education officer in order to gain information that will extend their knowledge. Opportunities for students to review what they are learning will be encouraged throughout the lesson. By using the worksheets and pursuing signage around the park, students reading and writing skills are promoted.

Mathematics
Mathematics skills such as counting, measurement and spatial awareness are incorporated into the basic lesson plan. Data collection skills can be refined by recording information that has been gathered from observing animals, sensory participation, verbal communication and pursuing signage around the park. Animal size comparison, cage measurements and distances can all provide opportunities for students to practice their measurement skills. Classification skills can be refined by sorting animals into groups based on family, size, food source, body covering, features, etc. By viewing the animals up close and comparing 2D pictures to real animals, students will be able to refine their spatial awareness skills.

Science & Technology
Using the information gathered whilst on their visit to Nowra Wildlife Park and the fact sheets provided, the students’ will be able to compile a factual database on native Australian flora and fauna which can be used for further studies throughout the year.

Each lesson provides information on animals including; how they grow and change, how they collect and consume food, diet, movement within their environment, adaptations to their environment, how animals react to varying stimuli (such as noise, scent, and temperature) and the ways in which animals protect themselves from predators.

H.S.I.E.
Nowra Wildlife Park offers the perfect location for students to learn about Australia’s unique environments and the ways in which animals and humans interact with them. Students’ will learn about the importance of caring for and maintaining the environment for both themselves and animals. Students’ will be encouraged to think about and offer suggestions of ways in which they can maintain and improve the environment. Topics such as bushfires, storms, pollution and the affect they have on both the environment and animals make great topics of conversation and provide plenty of ‘food for thought‘. During their visit students will be able to discover the uniqueness of Australia, its landscapes and animals through interaction and involvement and learn the importance of taking care of our natural assets.

• Animal Homes
• Missing Letters
• Letter Jumble
• “My Favourite Animal” Report
• Animal Multiple Choice
• Name an Animal
• Animal Diet Match
• What am I?
• Animal Find-a-Word
• Native and Non-native Animals
• Animal Differences
• Animal Groups
• Features of Living Things
• How Animals Eat
• Individual Animal Movement
• Animal Movement
• Animal Characteristics
• Animal Facts
• Animal Diets
• Animal Reproduction
• Endangered Animals

• Koala
• Kangaroo
• Wombat
• Possums and Gliders
• Quoll
• Dingo
• Crocodile
• Snake
• Tawny Frogmouth
• Owl
• Emu
• Cassowary

30 or more students = $8.00 per student

Teachers = FOC

Additional Adults = $8.00 per person

Prices include:
- entry to park
- lession with eduction officer
- worksheets
- fact sheets
- bag of animal food for each student