Biodiversity and Evolution Excursion

Biodiversity and Evolution Excursion – Year 8 SEAL Science

Our Year 8 SEAL Science class recently enjoyed an enriching excursion to the Melbourne Museum to explore the theory of evolution by natural selection through the fascinating fossil records.

The program began in the Learning Lab Studio, where students were guided by a museum learning expert. They then explored the 600 Million Years: Victoria Evolves exhibition, carefully examining fossils to uncover evidence for evolution. The visit also included the Research Institute Gallery and the Gandel Gondwana Garden, where students learned how current research continues to expand our understanding of evolution.

Throughout the day, students researched themes across multiple galleries to deepen their knowledge. Key learnings included:

• How Australia was once part of Gondwana and how this has shaped present-day biodiversity.
• How evolution explains both past and present biodiversity, highlighting the relatedness of all organisms.
• How fossils from different times and locations have contributed to our understanding of species evolution.

In addition to their research, the SEAL students worked in groups to create posters on their assigned topics and presented their findings to their peers.

We also enjoyed visiting the Triceratops fossil display and the Alive Bug Gallery, which added even more excitement to the day.

It was a most enjoyable and educational experience, offering students a memorable opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world scientific evidence.

Ms Chrystal Zhou report