Prep | Bluegum

Last term Prep Bluegum took their learning to new depths with an exciting excursion to the Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre! This hands-on experience helped bring our science learning to life, offering students the opportunity to explore living things and their environments in real and engaging ways.

The day began with a visit to the aquarium gallery and touch tank room, where students had the chance to see, and touch, different marine animals. With guidance from expert staff, each child helped create a mini aquarium, using some of the animals from the touch tank to learn about habitats and what living things need to survive.

A highlight for many was comparing the body features of a shark and a dolphin. This activity helped students observe and describe how different animals move, breathe, and interact with their surroundings, linking perfectly to our classroom exploration of external features and how these help animals to survive in their environments.

Using magnifying glasses, students examined sea stars and hermit crabs up close. We carefully observed details like shell patterns, legs, and body shapes, and worked together to group animals with similar features. Later, we sorted marine creatures from fastest to slowest based on what they’d learned about their bodies, an activity that sparked some great discussion and prediction skills!

Students were fascinated to watch baited underwater camera footage taken from the jetty earlier in the day. Seeing real-time marine life in action helped deepen their understanding of animal behaviour and ocean environments.

Before heading back to school, the children got the opportunity to feed the pool animals. Throughout the excursion, students were curious, respectful, and full of wonder. They asked thoughtful questions and made great connections to what we’ve been learning in class about living things, their features, and their needs.

This was a wonderful experience that supported our science learning in meaningful and memorable ways. 

Mr Aitchison

Prep Teacher