Students investigate the Grey-headed Flying-fox camp to complete a case study of animal adaptations in an urban parkland ecosystem.
Stage 3 Science
Students investigate the Grey-headed Flying-fox camp to complete a case study of animal adaptations in an urban parkland ecosystem.
Students will complete field observations, environmental testing and design-thinking tasks, exploring how biotic and abiotic factors influence behaviour, survival and heat stress responses of this threatened species. Students will apply scientific inquiry skills and use data to develop evidence-based explanations.
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
- apply design processes to create and evaluate a heat-stress adaptation solution.
Activities
-
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.
-
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.
-
Heat stress on flying-foxes – invention activity: Using design-thinking processes, students create a prototype solution to reduce heat stress in flying-fox colonies. Students evaluate how effectively their design responds to real-world climate challenges and modify their ideas based on feedback.
Curriculum links and syllabus outcomes
-
ST3-PQU-01 poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data
-
ST3-DAT-01 interprets data to support explanations and arguments
-
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.