A young girl stands in front of a black cockatoo in the Melbourne Zoo Great Flight Aviary

Special Development Schools Program

Year levels

Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Cost

See Plan Your Visit 

Availability

Monday to Friday (during school term)

Themes

Animal Features

Wild Carers offers a non-curriculum aligned experience for students to engage with animals and learn about their care.

Program description

This flexible program offers a unique experience for students to connect with animals and learn about their care. It addresses the needs of students through adaptive activities in a safe and supportive environment.

Students will learn:

  • Animal body features
  • Animal needs
  • How to care for animals

Program sequence

Before your visit

Connect and Understand

Use the activities in the Teaching Guide (below) to spark students’ curiosity before their zoo visit.

During your visit

Connect and Understand  

Your zoo visit will include: A welcome to the day (for arrivals between 9.45am and 10am), Zoo Teacher workshop (40 minutes) and keeper talks. Check out your Teaching Guide for other ideas of what to do at the zoo.

After your visit

Understand  
Use activities in the Teaching Guide to deepen students’ learning back at school. 

Act
Use the Teaching Guide to enable students to master their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. 

Program maps and itineraries

Your booking confirmation email will list your group's education workshop time/s. Each workshop time has its own map and suggested daily itinerary. Digital maps will be provided to you on the day.

Program resources

Your booking confirmation email will list your group's education workshop time/s. Each workshop time has its own map and suggested daily itinerary. Digital maps will be provided to you on the day.

Plan your excursion 

This program is an outdoor all-weather program; the students will need appropriate clothing for weather conditions. This could include a raincoat, hat and sun protection.

School groups will enter Melbourne Zoo via the Rail Gate entrance. Organising teachers please check in with our Admissions team upon arrival. More Information. 

Book your education experience

Fill out an online form to request a booking for your zoo education experience

Request booking now

You will need to know the following to book your zoo excursion or online workshop:

  • Education program of your choice (if applicable)
  • Preferred date
  • School name and address
  • Contact details of organising teacher
  • Number of students/classes and their year level