What makes a penguin curious? How do dolphins stay active and engaged? And what kinds of toys help animals thrive in human care?
These were some of the questions our Year 1 and 2 students explored during their exciting excursion to Sea World, where classroom learning came to life in a real-world setting.
This fun excursion is part of our Design and Technologies learning unit, where students have been designing enrichment toys for animals in captivity.
Throughout the day, students observed the many ways Sea World carers support animal wellbeing through stimulation, play and enrichment activities designed specifically for different species. Seeing these ideas in action helped students make meaningful connections between their classroom learning and the real world.
Students also spent time researching their chosen animals, gathering facts and observations to support their information writing projects.
"At Sea World, I liked everything! We did animal research and looked for facts about animals. My animal is the seal, and they need enrichment toys to be happy. I liked seeing the seals. They were swimming and having fun." - Soa, Year 2
"Sea World was really good. I liked the seals and polar bears. And I saw fish and sharks and stingrays! My favourite was the polar bear. My animal is seals and I designed a dark tunnel for seals. They go in and at the end they can get food." - Arlo, Year 2
"I loved seeing from under the water. I saw a big stingray and a big shark! My animal is dolphins. We made a toy for dolphins to play with. I did a ball for dolphins." - Octavia, Year 1
"We saw polar bears! My animal is polar bears, and I designed a toy where they try to get food out of a bottle. It entertains them so they don’t get bored." - Coen, Year 2
"I loved seeing lots of glowing jellyfish! It was a great time. And I learned it’s good to keep going and not give up on challenges. My advice is don’t give up learning when you’re challenged." - Naomi, Year 2
From watching marine animals up close to noticing their unique features and behaviours, the day sparked curiosity and wonder at the diversity of God’s creation.
"The students loved seeing the animals up close and learning about the unique ways God has created each one. It was a fun, engaging, and educational day that inspired curiosity and deepened their understanding across multiple learning areas." - Miss Tess Browne, Year 2 teacher
This much-loved excursion was filled with excitement, discovery and hands-on learning, while creating fun memories together as a cohort. Thanks, Sea World!