Biological Diversity study day – Sydney CBD
-
Audience
Secondary school -
Learning stage
Stage 6 -
Learning area
Science -
Type
Museum educator-led
© Australian Museum
About the program
This engaging full day program has been developed by the Australian Museum, the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and Taronga Zoo. This program is delivered at the Australian Museum and the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney's CBD.
Students will spend half the day (two 60 minute sessions) at the Australian Museum, and the other half (two 60 minute sessions) at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. There is a 60 minute break for lunch and walk between the venues.
- Australian Museum educator-led session where students investigate fossils, skeletons and DNA data from Australian animals to learn how comparative anatomy and genetics support the Theory of Evolution.
- Australian Museum self-led session where students will be given an inquiry-based task centred in the Wild Planet exhibition. The task will require students to use deductive reasoning and their working scientifically skills to investigate extinct and extant specimens.
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney educator-led session where students engage in field work using the site’s Eucalypt specimens to examine the role of divergent evolution in biological diversity.
- Taronga Zoo educator-led session provides students the opportunity to engage with live animals while learning about the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. They will explore the impacts that selection pressures have on population dynamics and discover how adaptations increase an organism’s chance of survival.
NSW (incorporating Australian Curriculum)
Stage 6
Biology Syllabus
Module 3: Biological Diversity
The table attached shows which content descriptors are addressed at each session.
Location: Australian Museum and Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney CBD
Dates: 10-13 June & 28-29 August, 2025
Biological Diversity Study Days are also available on selected dates at: Mosman, Coffs Harbour, Mount Annan and Mount Tomah.
Cost: $38 (GST included) per student
Duration: Four 60 minute sessions (9.30am-2:30pm with a 60 minute break for lunch and to walk between venues)
Capacity: Up to 30 students per session (four sessions per day) - smaller groups may be combined
Students need to be supervised at all times during the Biological Diversity study day. There is no set supervision ratio, however we allow free entry for teachers and accompanying adults at the ratio of 1:10 for secondary school groups and 1:1 for students with additional needs.
Booking information
Booking
Click on the 'Book now' link above to go to our bookings page.
Dates will be allocated on a first-in-best-dressed system.
Once you have been allocated a session, you will be sent a Booking Confirmation. Please ensure all other teachers involved in the excursion have a copy of this.
Final confirmation
Final booking numbers must be confirmed at least 28 days prior to the scheduled visit.
A tax invoice will be issued prior to your visit based on Final Confirmation details.
Changes and cancellations
Any changes to numbers or cancellations must be made in writing by emailing Group.Bookings@austmus.gov.au before the date for Final Confirmation (28 days prior to your visit).
Sessions require a minimum of 20 students to go ahead. While we make all attempts to combine schools to reach the minimum, we may cancel sessions if this minimum number cannot be reached.
Payment and billing
A tax invoice based on Final Confirmation details will be issued prior to your visit.
Please advise at the time of booking if the tax invoice needs to be issued to a different contact name or email address. NSW Department of Education schools that use the EDConnect payment system should advise this at time of booking and provide a purchase order number if required.
Our payment terms are nett 7 days. However, it is the AM’s strong preference that bookings be paid in full prior to the visit.
Adjustments on the day – the AM will adjust the invoice amount and you must pay the difference where:
- group numbers increase from Final Confirmation numbers; or
- the group changes to a more expensive booking/ticket.
The adjusted invoice payment terms are nett 7 days. To be clear, where numbers are less than Final Confirmation numbers, no deductions or refunds will be given.
Parking and public transport information is available for the Australian Museum and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Teachers and group leaders completing a risk management plan should be aware that the Australian Museum cannot complete the risk assessment for them. Please see our Venue and Safety information to assist you in preparing your risk assessment.
A complimentary pass can be provided to assist teachers and group leaders to familiarise themselves with the site prior to visiting. Please contact the Group Bookings Office to arrange this.
For the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, you can read more about planning your excursion and access a risk assessment here.
- Please plan to arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to your booked session.
- When you arrive you will need to provide staff with your booking confirmation number, school name, student and teacher attendance numbers for the day.
- In the event of a late arrival to the venue or a booked session, some parts of the session may need to be cut from the program to keep to the scheduled finish time.
- Students are encouraged to take photos, video and/or audio to record their excursion.
- Teachers and supervising adults are required to stay with their groups at all times.
- Disciplining of students remains the responsibility of teachers and supervising adults accompanying the group.
