Wildlife Wonders Visit Our Year 7s
It is not every day you walk into school and find a koala, a sugar glider, lizards and snakes waiting to meet you. But that is exactly what happened for our Year 7 students this week.
WestOz Wildlife, a local organisation dedicated to animal conservation, rehabilitation and education, visited the College for a special incursion, and the Science room was instantly transformed into a lively, hands-on classroom.
Hazel the sleepy koala stole the show, while a curious sugar glider, friendly lizards and several snakes made sure there were plenty of wide eyes and “wows” from the students.
“My favourite animal was probably the snake or the koala because I loved holding the snake around my neck which was cool. The koala surprised me because I didn’t think that I could pat them without it screaming and attacking.” Matilda
“Tully the Sugar Glider was way smaller than I expected. I knew they were small but seeing her up close made me realise just how tiny sugar gliders really are.” Valentina
Science, Right in Front of You
The incursion was designed to support students’ understanding of biological classification and scientific naming conventions in taxonomy – the science of classifying living things.
With each animal as a living example, the WestOz Wildlife educators explained how organisms are grouped based on shared characteristics and how their scientific names reflect genus and species. Students observed details, fur, scales, tails and more, and discussed how these features help classify each animal as a mammal, reptile or marsupial.
Learning Beyond the Textbook
From the gentle weight of a snake around their shoulders to the unexpected softness of a koala’s fur, the experience gave students more than just knowledge, it gave them a connection to the natural world.
This kind of interactive learning inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and makes scientific concepts memorable. Meeting these animals up close encouraged our Year 7s to think about conservation and the role they can play in protecting Australia’s unique wildlife.
Over to You
We believe the best lessons often happen beyond the textbook. Whether it is in the lab, outdoors, or during an incursion like this, our girls are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and connect their learning to the real world.
Which animal would you be most excited to meet, the koala, the sugar gliders, or the snake?
- AustralianNativeAnimals, BiologicalClassificationLesson, Featured, HandsOnScienceLearning, SantaMariaCollege, ScienceIncursion, StudentLearning, StudentLife, WestOzWildlife, Year7Science
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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