Year 11 Earth and Environmental Excursion to the Australian Museum

In week 1, Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science students embarked on a rich excursion to the Australian Museum, delving into Australia's rich geological history and abundant natural resources. They explored exhibits on fossils, the movement of tectonic plates over time, and the environments that ancient dinosaurs once inhabited before their extinction. Interactive displays revealed the processes behind mineral formation and the origins of valuable geologic resources, giving students a deeper appreciation of Earth's dynamic changes. Tasked with linking their observations to broader environmental concepts, students engaged in activities designed to foster critical thinking and collaboration. With over 21 million scientific specimens and cultural artefacts, the museum provided an expansive learning environment, leaving students with new perspectives and sparking insightful reflections shared in their review comments below:

Charlotte Cornett

The Australian Museum visit was extremely engaging, and provided strong links to the geological timeline aspect of our Earth and Environmental course while also referencing the role of organisms in this timeline, which relates to our year 12 studies. The exhibits were well laid out, educational, and evoked an interest in learning more about the subject matter we explored in the different sections, especially in the Wild Planet exhibit (My personal favourite).

Tadanashe Mauwa

During the excursion visiting the Australian Museum in Sydney, we engaged in different sections, including the wild planet, shifting continents, dinosaurs and fossils, climate change and surviving Australia, Aboriginal, and minerals areas, minerals being my favourite. The minerals displays connected with our Module 1 lessons.

Matilda Post

I enjoyed the entire wild planet exhibit as I found learning about the different types of animals that were around the world thousands and even millions of years ago interesting, also how animals today have evolved due to changing climates and circumstances.

Scarlett Smit

Favourite exhibit - Wildlife, taxidermy was fun to look at

Experience - I enjoyed it, I have been there a million times. I love just reading fun facts about odd fossils and animals. My favourite was the Demon Duck of Doom!

Jessica Vida

I enjoyed the Australian Museum, and my favourite exhibit was the minerals, as it was fascinating reading about their formation and use. The dinosaurs were related to Earth's resources and the geologic timescale, and possibly linked to fossil formation (Earth's processes) in year 12. The minerals were related to Earth's resources, specifically the rocks, minerals and rock cycle section, and are possibly linked to changes in the geosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere (Earth's processes) in year 12.