Resources for Students and Teachers

Museum Zoo has been developed by Queensland Museum South Bank. The exhibition is located on Level 3 of the Museum. It will continue throughout 2008-09.

This exhibition provides a unique and valuable opportunity for students to investigate biodiversity and survival as well as reflecting on their own size and the impact of human civilisation.

During a visit, students will:

Develop a sense of their own size and scale in relation to living things.
Understand that bigger is not necessarily better in terms of their ability to survive.
Realise that every animal, regardless of size, has evolved to survive and be successful.

Entry to this exhibition is FREE. To make a group booking, visit Queensland Museum South Bank Learning.

Book into one of our Museum Zoo Exhibition up Close Student Sessions!

These 30 minutes sessions are facilitated by Museum staff and explore Animals and Me, Size, Success and Survival. Explore biodiversity, physical and behavioural adaptations, human comparisons, habit impact and more.

There are 3 different programs, each with a different set of learning outcomes: Prep - year 2; year 3 - year 7; and year 8 - year 10.

Visit Queensland Museum South Bank Learning and download our Information and Booking Kit for further information or to make a booking. Cost $3.50 per student.

Museum Zoo as a learning experience

The content of this exhibition can be used to develop students' understanding of size and survival, personal awareness and biodiversity. The following activities provide ideas for ongoing learning exploring these themes.

Before your visit

Explore concepts and definitions of success. Challenge students' notions of big, powerful and dangerous.
Examine the place of humans in a natural system such as a food chain. Identify behavioural and / or physical adaptations that make humans successful. Are humans a successful species?

During your visit

Compare the unfamiliar animals in the collection with those you recognise. Reflect on the physical characteristics they share with other animals and yourself.
Investigate special adaptations of various animals. Will these be detected in the way they move, in their shape, in the number of offspring they produce? Are several characteristics at work?
Reflect on our place in the parade of animals. Where do you fit compared to the other animals in relation to size, survival and success?
Get active with our 'Great Wall'. Can you jump further? Find out where you fit in among the spiders, kangaroos and dinosaurs.
Switch into survival mode. Outplay each other in a game of Survival. Will you be using stealth, spines or speed? Or will you prove to be the ultimate survivor with the help of armies, camouflage or toxins?

After your visit

Reflect on characteristics that equip animals for success and survival.
Get the (complete) picture. Consider that animals (and plants) may play a significant role in the food web. Consider how the elimination of one species may impact on others.
Explore the impact humans have on the animals in our world. What do humans do that impacts on animal to survival? What can we do to help animals survive? Know how to share our planet!
Make connections. Know how to share our planet! Your Museum is working to maintain the survival of these magnificent animals. Recognise the Museum as a resource to facilitate understanding and appreciation of biodiversity.
Explore the impact humans have on the animals in our world. What do humans do that impact on animal survival? What can we do to help animals survive? Know how to share our planet! For more ideas on what we can do, visit Global Warming Cool It: A home guide to reducing energy costs and greenhouse gases [new window]* or download sustainability education [new window]* resources by Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts [new window]*.
* The content found by using these links is not created, controlled or approved by the Queensland Museum. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on these sites. These links will load into a new window.

Queensland Curriculum Links

Museum Zoo supports the following strands in the Queensland Curriculum Key Learning Areas:

Early Years

Active Learning Processes
Social and Personal Learning

Years 1-10 (Levels 1-6)

Science: Science and Society; Earth and Beyond; Life and Living.
SOSE: Time, Continuity and Change; Place and Space; Culture and Identity; Systems, Resources and Power.
Technology: Technology Practice; Information.