La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary
Education Experiences
Hands on Habitats
What do animals need to survive and where do they live? The La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary
provides natural habitat for many kinds of native animals. Get hands-on with Hands on
Habitats!
Hands on Habitats is the ideal introduction to (or reinforcement of) the needs of animals, and interactions with
their environment. Your students will investigate three habitats in an Australian River Red Gum Woodland –
Terrestrial (ground), Arboreal (trees and hollows) and Aquatic (wetland); gaining insight into the components of
habitats, the native animals that live here and how these environments function. We also offer extended
activities and/or incursions to assist you in the design and construction of habitat, if this is your goal.
Your educational experience at the Sanctuary is designed to stimulate the imagination and curiosity of your
students and provide them with ways to safely explore, learn and look after their environment. The Hands on
Habitats experience offers a range of engaging activities for Australian curriculum levels 3-6. A standard half
day (2 hour) experience consists of four activities. Each one has specific learning outcomes.
Activity
Description
An introduction to the habitats of the Sanctuary and the
animals that live here. Students construct a food web that
links terrestrial, aquatic and arboreal habitats.
Students work in teams to piece together nest boxes and
work out which animal the box has been designed for;
different animals have different requirements.
Students view camera footage of animals occupying our
nest boxes.
Students rotate through riparian zone mini-activities:
Wetland
identifying waterbirds, frog calling, frog triangulation,
Monitoring
habitat assessment, peering below the water using our
(Level 3+)
periscopes.
Whose Habitat is Students use an information booklet to identify the needs
of native animals. Using clues from the booklet they search
that?
for the perfect habitat for these animals.
( Level 3+)
We are able to tailor activities or experiences to support your schools’ visit.
Introduction to
Habitats
( Level 3+)
Nest Box
Investigation
(Level 3+)
latrobe.edu.au/wildlife
La Trobe University’s Outdoor Laboratory
Australian
Curriculum Links
ACSSU073
ACSSU073
ACSSU094
ACSIS066
ACSIS088 / ACSIS104
ACSSU094
ACSSU073
ACSIS231 / ACSIS232
La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary
Education Experiences
The Hands on Habitats experience offers extension activities to engage your students further. These activities
can be tailored to your visit.
Activity
Ant / Bee /
Butterfly game
(Level F+)
Pull-Apart-a-Poa
( Level F+)
Description
Ants, bees and butterflies are important to ecosystems.
This game demonstrates the basic behaviour of these
Minibeasts and engages students in a fun team building
activity.
Poa (native grass tussocks) provide habitat for many
small animals. Students investigate this habitat by
pulling apart tussocks and collecting creatures they find.
Australian Curriculum
Links
ACSSU073
ACSSU044 ACSSU017
ACSSU211
Potting-up-a-Poa
( Level F+)
Students get hands-on and pot up their own native grass
which provides habitat for many small animals. Grasses
can be taken back to school or home.
ACSSU211 ACSSU073
ACSHE022 / ACSHE035
Habitat Creation
( Level 3+)
Hands-on propagation and/or planting for habitat in the
La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary.
ACSHE022 / ACSHE035
ACSHE051 ACSSU073
ACSSU094
Lizard Lounge
( Level 3+)
Students are introduced to the habitat requirements of
lizards and the steps involved in constructing a ‘lizard
lounge’.
ACSSU073
ACSSU043
Frog Bog
Construction
( Level 3+)
Students learn how to create and construct a frog bog.
They discover what is needed for a healthy ecosystem
and frog habitat.
ACSSU074
ACSSU094
Nest Box
Construction
( Level 4+)
With adequate adult supervision (1 adult per 5
students), student teams follow instructions and use
tools to construct their own nest box. Additional costs
apply.
Students calculate their class ecological footprint. They
discuss ways in which they can become more
sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.
ACSSU073
ACSSU094
My Footprint
( Level 4+)
ACSHE062
ACSHE220
Book Now on 9479 1206 or [email protected]
Is your school aiming for accreditation in
AussiVic?
Would you like to start on your sustainability journey?
La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary can work with your school to get you closer to your sustainability goals and help
link you to the Australian Curriculum.
Our Hands on Habitats experience can be tailored to assist you in getting accreditation in the Biodiversity
module. Activities can be tailored as school incursions and our staff can show your school how to build and
monitor the health of your own wetland habitat.
The Sanctuary also has an on-site Indigenous Plant Nursery, a great resource to purchase plants for creating
your school Frog Bog, Lizard Lounge or Habitat Gardens.
latrobe.edu.au/wildlife
La Trobe University’s Outdoor Laboratory