Melbourne Aquarium is offering children from Melbourne’s CBD an opportunity to learn about the two varieties of penguins living there - King penguins and Gentoo penguins – through a program that invites them to become Junior Penguin Keepers.
Primary school students will be able to learn fun facts about penguins as well as learning about penguin keepers and their working days through worksheets, online videos and question and answer sheets.
Videos available on the zoo’s website include in-depth looks at the routines of the penguins including feeding, cleaning, weekly weigh-in sessions and the bonds between each other and their keepers.
Live streams on Facebook featuring the penguins at different times of the day will allow students to see the penguins in residence at the zoo up close and watch their interactions with each other and their keepers.
Fact sheets detailing the differences between the two types of penguins, their habitats and the science and life cycles of penguins are also available to be downloaded. A Facebook page has been set up for the learner penguin keepers and students can share their favourite facts and photos of penguins as they learn more about the species.
Online activities such as this educational program will often use graphic design to ensure the material in the program catches the attention of children and encourages participation.
New content is available each Monday to Thursday from late July to September, but children are able to begin the program and start learning from any date. A downloadable calendar is available on the website and Facebook page showing when new content is available to access.
