Students investigate the Grey-headed Flying-fox camp to complete a case study of animal adaptations in an urban parkland ecosystem.
Stage 3 Science
Step into Centennial Parklands and discover the flying foxes who live here. In this excursion, students investigate how Grey-headed Flying Foxes survive and adapt within a dynamic parkland environment.
Through hands-on fieldwork, students observe flying fox behaviour and identify key structural and behavioural adaptations. Using scientific tools, they collect and interpret data on biotic and abiotic factors, developing an understanding of how ecosystems function and respond to change.
Students then apply futures thinking to examine how environments change over time, considering the impacts of environmental shifts on flying fox populations and the broader ecosystem.
Learning intention
Students will:
- observe and record flying-fox behaviour and adaptations
- compare biotic and abiotic features inside and outside the swamp habitat
- identify variables and conduct simple fair tests
- analyse data to explain patterns related to animal survival
Activities
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Flying-fox behaviour observation: Students observe flying-foxes in their natural roosting habitat, recording behaviours, grouping patterns, social interactions and adaptations such as wing use, cooling behaviours and feeding habits.
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Biotic and abiotic field testing – inside and outside the swamp: Students test temperature, light, humidity, vegetation cover and species presence in two contrasting environments. They compare data to investigate how habitat conditions support or challenge flying-fox survival.
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Representing Environmental Change: Students create a ephermeral artwork to represent environmental change of the flying fox and nearby areas environments.
Curriculum links and syllabus outcomes
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ST3-PQU-01 poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data
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ST3-DAT-01 interprets data to support explanations and arguments
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ST3-DDT-01 uses design processes to create, evaluate and modify designed solutions
Vocabulary
Adaptation, behaviour, biotic, abiotic, variable, data, roost, humidity, temperature, ecosystem, heat stress, prototype, design solution.
Make the most of your excursion with our engaging classroom resources designed to support your teaching.
The Education Access Pass Program covers all program and transport costs for schools with an FOEI higher than 125 and community organisations that work with groups in need.
Please contact us directly with the name of the program and your group size and we can help you organise a free program.
This program is funded through the Legacy Fund of the Centennial Parklands Foundation.