Schools Environmental Education Program
Our education program offers hands-on learning designed to engage students to learn more about the environment, sustainability, and climate change.
Each one-hour lesson is targeted at specific learning levels from preschool right through to year 12 and VCAL.
All lessons can be delivered as excursions to the Eco Living Display Centre or elsewhere on the Mornington Peninsula or incursions to your school.
"We all learned so much and the students were engaged throughout. The cost is well worth the time and expertise. We are so happy with what you provided". - Jacqui, Mornington Primary School teacher
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Lesson Topics
Human impact and the environment
Explore how human activity can impact our environment, including through climate change and waste. Through a variety of activities, students can discover how they can make a difference and learn about some amazing young people who have developed innovative approaches to reverse these impacts.
Our coastal environment
Victoria's coastal environment is incredibly biodiverse. Explore how some marine plants and animals have adapted to the harsh coastal environment, explore threats to the marine environment including climate change, erosion and litter and learn some simple things we can all do to protect our precious coastal areas.
Activities can include:
- Rockpool ramble (K - 12)
- Erosion exploration (Y 9 onwards)
- Beach litter audit (K - 12)
- Shorebird/migratory bird game (K - 6)
- Animal, vegetable or mineral (K - 12)
- Marine animal trophic pyramid challenge (Grade 4 - Y 10)
Climate change solutions
Students will be guided through a series of age specific activities designed to develop their awareness of the causes of climate change and how we can take action to address it.
Sustainable energy solutions
Examine the difference between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Explore the various sustainable energy solutions showcased in the Eco Living Display Centre and examine how we can all reduce our electricity use. Older students can use home energy kits to explore the energy usage of common household appliances.
Water saving intiatives
Students will learn how much drinkable water we have access to and how much water we use in our homes. Follow the scavenger hunt to discover how we can reduce water use in our homes. Discover just how much water you really use per day and the impact it has on Australia’s water supply. Older students can complete a waterbody and/or water quality assessment and learn about how we can protect our water catchments.
Reducing waste - the 9 Rs
Students learn about the 9Rs, how we can reduce waste and how closed-loop recycling is helping to reduce environmental impacts. Discover how to become a savvy shopper and solve solutions for common household items to divert them from landfill. Explore solutions to organic waste disposal including composting and worm farms.
Plastic oceans
Students learn what happens when we drop litter and how it harms our sea birds & animals by engaging in a series of hands-on activities such as the nurdle challenge, 'what's for dinner?' and litter solutions.
Assessing ecosystem health
Students will explore common concepts of biodiversity, habitat and ecosystems, explore threats to biodiversity and how they can help improve it. Students will develop skills in classification, observation and analysis in a fun and interactive setting. Activities include macroinvertebrate (water bug) identification, leaf litter audits, habitat assessments and a food chain activity and an exploration of how we can all undertake simple actions to protect biodiversity.
Environmentally sustainable house design
Identify and evaluate the impact that design, materials, systems and components have in sustainable house construction. Students work in groups to implement design ideas, processes and solutions to create their own sustainable house design. This creative and interactive lesson gives students the opportunity to think outside the box, develop a broad understanding of environmentally sustainable design, how human lifestyles impact the availability of natural resources, how individuals can move towards a more sustainable future and the many benefits of constructing a sustainable buildings.
Sustainable food systems
Sustainable food production
Students can explore various aspects of sustainable food production including water tanks, composting, raingardens, worm farms, companion planting and more in the sanguine setting of the Eco Living Display Centre gardens.
Improving our food systems
Explore what we can all do to reduce our environmental impact of the food we eat. This can include exploring the greening of the food production chain, the carbon footprint of the food we eat, the surprising impact of food waste and steps to tackle it and innovations to feed more people with less environmental impact.
I Sea, I Care - Dolphin Research Institute Program
Mornington Peninsula Shire subsidises the Dolphin Research Institute’s 'I sea, I care' Ambassador Program, a leadership program that empowers young people to learn about our marine environment and share their knowledge with their peers.
