Whoo dunnit
Science and technology
In this immersive, inquiry-based program, students become ecological detectives as they work to solve the mystery of Whoooo Killed the Powerful Owl? Using scientific investigation skills, they pose questions, gather evidence, and develop theories to uncover what happened and how we can help protect this iconic native predator.
Excursion site
| 10:00 | Introduction and Acknowledgement of Country |
| 10:20 |
Discover the crime scene in which a powerful owl has been killed. Pose questions about what might have happened to it. Examine a preserved powerful owl to learn out its behavioural and structural adaptations use a journal to record adaptations of the powerful owl. |
| 11:30 | Recess |
| 12:00 |
Undertake a food web evidence hunt. describe the impact on the ecosystem from the introduction of foxes and cats and other human impacts. |
| 1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:30 | Assess the habitat required by both a powerful owl and its prey and make suggestions on the health of their ecosystem |
| 2:00 | Conclusion and depart |
* There may be variations to timetable based on specific location, group size and weather
Tier 2:
investigate, observe, identify, describe, explain, analyse, record, interpret, evaluate, predict
Tier 3:
ecosystem, adaptation, habitat, food web, predator, prey, species, biodiversity, sustainability, environment
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)
Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions
Outcomes
uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices ST3-SCI-01
poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data ST3-PQU-01
Content
Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments
- Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments
- Interpret a food web that describes the flow of matter and energy between plants and animals in an ecosystem
- Identify and describe how the loss or introduction of plants or animals affects an Australian ecosystem
- Describe how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sustainable practices continue to protect the environment
"The students learnt a lot and had so much fun. They loved all the hands on experience and the staff's knowledge of plants and animals was very evident which helped students gain more of an understanding of adaptations."