SURVIVING AUSTRALIAClassification and adaption

SecondaryEducationKit

3SECONDARY EDUCATION KIT

SURVIVING AUSTRALIA

VISITING THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUMBRIEFINGA Museum staff member will be on hand to greet your group when you arrive. They will brief your groups about how to move around the Museum and direct you to areas of the Museum you intend to visit.

BAG STORAGEThere is limited bag storage available on site. It is recommended that students just bring a small carry bag with the essentials for the day, however if required, storage can be provided depending on availability.

EXHIBITIONSIn addition to any booked educator-led sessions, students and teachers may explore the Museum’s exhibitions in their own time. Some special exhibitions may incur an additional charge. It is suggested that students visit the galleries in small groups to prevent overcrowding.

LUNCH AND BREAKSIt is recommended that students bring their recess and lunch and eat in Hyde Park or Cook & Phillip Park, both of which are across the road from the Museum. Alternative arrangements will be provided in the case of wet weather.

BYOD AND PHOTOGRAPHYStudents are encouraged to bring their own devices to take photos, video and/or audio to record their excursion. Some temporary exhibitions do not allow photography but you will be advised of this on arrival.

FREE WIFIThe Museum offers free Wi-fi for onsite visitors. It is available in 30 minute sessions. Students and teachers can log on for more than one session.

PHOTOCOPYINGPlease photocopy the following materials for students and accompanying adults:- Student Activity Sheet- Surviving Australia exhibition floorplan

SUPERVISIONTeachers and supervising adults are required to stay with their groups at all times. Disciplining of students remains the responsibility of teachers and supervising adults accompanying the group.

4SECONDARY EDUCATION KIT

SURVIVING AUSTRALIA

SURVIVING AUSTRALIACLASSIFICATION AND ADAPTATIONClassification and adaptation is a program for Stage 4 Science students. The activities are designed for a self guided visit to the Surviving Australia exhibition.

SYLLABUS LINKSThe exhibition and the student activities are relevant to the following New South Wales Board of Studies Science Years 7-10 Syllabus outcomes:Knowledge and UnderstandingOutcomes:* SC4-4LW: Relates the structure and the function of living things to their classification, survival and reproduction.Content:* LW1: There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity (ACSSU111)a) identify reasons for classifying living thingsb) classify a variety of living things based on similarities and differences in structural featuresc) use simple keys to identify...animalsf) explain how the features of some Australia...animals are adaptations for survival and reproduction in their environmentAdditional content:* Classify, using a hierarchial system, a range of selected plants and animals to species level

Skills - Working ScientificallyOutcomes:* SC4-6WS: Follows a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigative types, collaboratively and individually* SC4-7WS: Processes and analyses data from a first-hand investigation and secondary sources to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draw conclusions* SC4-8WS: Selects and uses appropriate strategies, understanding and skills to produce creative and plausible solutions to identified problems* SC4-9WS: Presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific language, text types and representations

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SURVIVING AUSTRALIA

To make the most of your visit to the exhibition we recommend that you prepare your students before their excursion with some of the following suggested activities.* Introduce concepts related to adaptation and classification* Introduce or revise relevant terminology used in the Classification and adaption student activity sheets* Provide a context for the excursion to the Museum including the reasons for visiting the Museum, the tasks to be completed and the expected outcomes.

AT THE MUSEUMThe Classification and adaption activity sheets are based on displays in the Australian Museum’s Surviving Australia exhibition.The activities enable students to explore concepts related to classification, ecosystems, adaptations and biodiversity while surrounded by a rich array of live and prepared specimens.There are five self-guided activities, each based in a different section of the Surviving Australia exhibition. The activities are:1. Collecting, naming and identifying2. Invertebrates of the sea3. Vertebrates from island homes4. Backyard invertebrates5. Adapt or dieThe Surviving Australia exhibition is divided into five main thematic areas:* Blue Edge* Island Homes* Our Backyard* Dangerous Australians* Adapt or DieA separate Exhibition Guide details the content of the Surviving Australia exhibition.

ORGANISATIONAL TIPS* Advise students that there are five activities and each activity is located in a different section of the exhibition. A floorplan is located at the end of the activity sheets which indicates the various sections needed.* Organise the students to break into small groups. Each group should be given a different activity to start with then asked to rotate through the various activities in order to avoid overcrowding of the displays.Note that the Scientists’ Stories presented in the mini theatrette are shown in a fixed order, so there could be up to a 10 minute wait for the story on collecting insects.

SURVIVING AUSTRALIAPRE VISIT ACTIVITIES

6SECONDARY EDUCATION KIT

SURVIVING AUSTRALIA

SURVIVING AUSTRALIAPOST VISIT ACTIVITIESAfter your visit to the exhibition we recommend the following post visit activities.* Search the Australian Museum website to find pictures of 3-5 animals from one class of vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds or mammals). Create a dichotomous key to identify each animal selected, then swap with a partner to test each other’s key.* Research how each of the above animals have adapted: - to survive environmental conditions in their habitat - to find and obtain food - to attract/find a mate e.g. calls, colour, behaviour

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