St Michael’s Grammar School, in Chapel Street, St Kilda, has embarked on an exciting new program with Earthcare and Parks Victoria.
Early in term three, the school launched its Year 3 signature program ‘Penguin Squad’, which will see the students engaging with the St Kilda penguin colony.
The students are taking a deep dive into learning about penguins, where they live, their needs, and how they survive.
St Michael’s is developing a range of signature programs to be offered at every year level, to support its educational vision to nurture creative, inquiring minds to learn from, with and for the world.
These programs draw on evidence based experiential learning processes relating to the connection of learning, experience, and reflection.
Through the Penguin Squad program, students will investigate the ecosystem in which the penguin colony exists and the penguins’ life cycle.
The students have selected four nests where cameras have been installed and will use this footage back at school to learn more about penguin behaviour and the conditions in which they thrive.
Forging a unique connection with Earthcare and the St Kilda Penguins allows the school to offer a rich educational experience to their Year 3 students.
The field work they engage in will form a large part of their investigations in the classroom.
Students participated in this immersive experience with enthusiasm and excitement and are looking forward to their continued learning back at school as they wonder and learn more about these beautiful birds.
Thanks must go to Parks Victoria and Earthcare for their collaboration with St Michael’s to provide this wonderful opportunity to the St Michael’s Year 3 students.
This learning experience would also not be possible without the dedicated junior school staff who are overseeing the program and ensuring its success, by creating an engaging learning environment for St Michael’s students.
