Year 12 Biology Steps Beyond the Classroom
Our Year 12 ATAR Biology students visited Perth Zoo this week, to step outside the classroom and see their learning in action.
There is a big difference between reading about biological concepts and watching them play out in front of you. At the zoo, students were able to observe animals closely and connect what they have been learning in Units 3 and 4 to real living systems.
Seeing Biology In Real Time
Throughout the excursion, students took part in fieldwork through observation, data collection and analysis. More importantly, they had the chance to see in real time the kinds of processes and responses they have been studying in class.
The close encounters were a real highlight, giving students a better understanding of homeostasis and other biological mechanisms that are much harder to appreciate from a worksheet or whiteboard.
Bringing Learning To Life
Excursions like this give students the chance to slow down, look carefully and make stronger connections between theory and the real world. For our Year 12 Biology students, it was a valuable opportunity to experience their learning in a more immediate and meaningful way.
Student Highlights
The Year 12 Biology students reflected on their experience at the zoo:
“I highly enjoyed the zoo experience, especially feeding the giraffes, as it gave me a hands-on opportunity to learn about the animals behaviour. This experience deepened my understanding of how animals regulate homeostasis and adapt to their environments, while also highlighting the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats.”
- atar biology, biology fieldwork, Featured, learning beyond the classroom, Perth Zoo excursion, real world science learning, Santa Maria College, senior science education, Year 12 Biology
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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