Grade 3 and 4

The connections to land and animals at Werribee Open Range Zoo

On Wednesday, our Grade 3 and 4 students embarked on an exciting and enriching excursion to Werribee Open Range Zoo. With the weather on our side, we were able to immerse ourselves in a day full of learning, exploration and adventure.

Our visit began with an education session led by zoo instructors, focusing on Features, Lifecycles and the Environment. This session directly supported our Inquiry learning, as students explored the structural features of animal skulls and identified what makes an animal a herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore. These observations were extended as we considered how animals adapt to the environments in which they live.

As we moved through the zoo, students examined different habitats, considering the climate and natural features that support various species. This was further enriched during our Safari Tour, where we travelled through diverse environments including arid landscapes, African and Asian savannahs, wetlands and the Australian outback. Many students excitedly described the experience as a real-life Lion King moment!

Throughout the day, we continued to make rich cross-curricular connections, particularly betweenInquiry and English. Our current units explore how animals and environments differ across Australia and the world. Students have been investigating each Australian state and territory, identifying their unique climates, landforms, and native species. These learnings are then extended globally, with comparisons to other continents and how animals adapt to different conditions around the world.

The excursion also supported our learning in English, especially in persuasive writing. At the Gorilla enclosure, we had the privilege of hearing from a zoo volunteer about Yakini, a critically endangered gorilla. This real-world example sparked thoughtful discussion and was closely linked to the students’ writing, where they have been developing persuasive texts about protecting endangered animals and the importance of conservation efforts.

A big thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers, teachers, teacher aides, and Mr Webber for making this experience possible.

Take a look at our highlights below!

Book Week 2025

The theme this year was Book an Adventure. It is to encourage children to see reading as a journey of discovery and imagination. This theme emphasises how stories offer new experiences, allow us to explore new worlds and meet new characters. Everyone rose to this theme and came dressed and embodied what they imagined these characters to look and be like. It was an awesome day exploring books and seeing our imagination come to life. Check out the costumes!