Year 7 Healesville Sanctuary - STEM Excursion

Year 7 science students have recently studied the international animal and plant classification systems with a particular emphasis on local native species. The sequel to that has been the identification of ecosystems, and the survival of the species in those ecosystems.

In the foothills forests of the Victorian Great Dividing Range dwells the state’s faunal emblem animal, Leadbeater’s possum (LBP), a highly endangered species. At Healesville they breed the animals and seek to provide habitat for them to survive and reproduce in efforts to help prevent any further decline in their small remnant populations in the wild.

Special LBP nest boxes, improved through a series designs, were shown to our year 7 students by the experienced keeper at Healesville in their Wednesday 7th October excursion. The students actually used the high-tech equipment that researchers employ to safely observe inside nestboxes used by professional researchers. They observed a sugar glider, which had taken up residence inside one of the LBP nest boxes 2 meters above the ground, attached to a tree trunk, via a wi-fi connected video link.

The students then were given modelling materials to build experimentally designed nest boxes that could improve on existing designs.

The cream-coloured dingo was very popular with the students, in their walk through the sanctuary, knowing the animal’s uniquely Australian genetic background and its special classification niche in the family Canidae.  Many photos were taken of it.

 To round off the day, the keepers offered our students a special treat to walk amongst the hyper-realistic dinosaur exhibit, that was fenced-off from the general public.

Our special thanks go to the teachers attending the excursion: Ms. Brennan, Dr. Krishnan and Ms. Sultan.

Nevil Schultz

Science Teacher