Sharks: Secondary unit
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Audience
Secondary school -
Learning stage
Stage 4, Stage 5 -
Learning area
Climate change, Mathematics, Science -
Type
Learning unit, Learning resources
On this page...
Sharks is an exhibition about sharks, but it is also an exhibition about us.
Having swum in the world’s oceans for over 450 million years and survived five global mass extinctions, sharks are now under threat. Unsustainable fishing, habitat destruction and climate change are impacting sharks. Our attitudes and our actions will decide the fate of these ancient survivors.
Here in Sydney, where the Pacific meets Australia, we’re honoured to have Australian and Pacific First Nations people, scientists and conservationists, sharing their stories about sharks.
Through this unit, students will:
- engage with Sharks exhibition content.
- question what they know and feel about sharks.
- identify shark features and classify based on similarities and differences.
- learn about food chains and the important role sharks play.
- research the threats to shark species and what can be done to protect them.
NSW syllabus outcomes
SC4-7WS; SC4-14LW; SC4-15LW; SC5-7WS; SC5-14LW; SC5-15LW
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Before your visit
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Acknowledgement of Country
Learn about the importance of an Acknowledgement of Country, and write one for your school.
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How do sharks make you feel?
Where do we get our ideas about sharks? Do you feel strongly about them, one way or the other?
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What is a shark?
Use this diagnostic assessment to find out what your students know about sharks already, how we classify them and what they would like to find out more about.
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Shark report card
Analyse data collected by the state and federal governments of Australia on shark populations around the country.
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Understanding food chains
Watch a short video explaining the concept of a food chain and then visit the SharkSmart website to get started on your own shark food chain.
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Building a food web
Combine your food chains to create a food web! Can you combine with your whole class to make everything interconnected?
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At the Museum
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Book a free self-led visit
Book in a self-led visit to the Museum for your school, and use our downloadable learning resources designed to engage students in our collections and exhibitions.
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See our exhibitions online
Exhibition over? Don't worry, you can access our digital publication to dive into all the exhibition's specimens, objects and stories.
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After your visit
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What have you learnt so far?
Use a short reflective exercise to get your students thinking about their visit to the Museum and the animals they saw.
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A shark's tale
Tell a story with statistics and get creative with infographic design!
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Keeping an eye out
Can you think of new ways to stay safe in the water and minimise our harm to sea creatures? Use the SharkSmart website to review technologies being used in NSW and then design your own.
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Shark PR
Some animals get bad press! Select a shark that you learnt about while at the Museum, and make a short 'promotional' video about how important it is.
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