Years 7 - 10 programs
Levels 7 and 8 Indoor programs
All indoor programs include time in the MFDC Aquarium. This is included in the duration times listed.
Sink or swim: Structure, function and food chains | Students investigate the unique and specialised functions that marine and freshwater animals and plants have that enable them to survive and reproduce. Students will also investigate interactions between these organisms and produce food chains and food webs. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Making sense of diversity: Classification | Our marine and freshwater environments have an amazing diversity of organisms. Using the animals and plants in the MFDC’s aquarium, preserved animals and specimens in our laboratory, students will group and classify using dichotomous keys | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Freshwater wonders: Food chains | Aquatic invertebrates are integral to food webs. Using water samples collected from a nearby waterway students will have the opportunity to identify and group animals according to sensitivity to a water ways health. Using the animals found, students will show the relationships between the organisms from a freshwater environment. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Levels 7 and 8 Outdoor programs
All outdoor programs include a session (30 mins) in the MFDC aquarium before or after your program. This is included in the duration times listed. Some programs are tide dependent so we may not be able to book your preferred time and date.
Marine biology cruise | You will be amazed to discover what lives on drifting seaweed. Students will examine organisms from a sample taken from Port Phillip and observe their amazing structures that help them survive in the sea. The cruise also visits an Australian Fur Seal haul out site and Australasian Gannet colony at Pope’s Eye. Students will also investigate interactions between these organisms and can produce food chains and food webs. | Duration 2.5 hours. |
Rocky shore diversity | Students use keys to make sense of the amazing diversity of life found on a rocky shore platform and discover the fantastic adaptations that help organisms survive in the harsh intertidal environment. Students will also investigate interactions between these organisms and can produce food chains and food webs. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Mudflat diversity | Students use keys to make sense of the amazing diversity of organisms in this internationally significant intertidal mudflat. Discover the fantastic adaptations that help organisms survive in a variety of mudflat micro-habitats. Students will also investigate interactions between these organisms and can produce food chains and food webs. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Biodiversity in the Sea: Shore Snorkel | What better way to observe the diversity of cool water wonders than immersing yourself in it on a snorkel? Students will be able to closely observe a variety of marine animals and plants in their natural habitats and appreciate Victoria's marine diversity. All gear (mask, snorkel, wetsuits) provided. | Duration 2.5 hours. |
Swan Bay canoe explorers | Learn the basics of canoeing while discovering some of the wonders of Swan Bay. This activity involves using canoes to access one of this region's most important fish nurseries and an internationally significant wader bird habitat. Students will have the opportunity to sample seagrass habitats and form food chains from the organisms observed. | Duration 2.5 hours. Teacher : Student Ratio |
Dynamic dunes: Sand dune investigation | Coastal environments are tough! To survive, plants must cope with salt, wind, shifting sands, low nutrients and human impacts. While visiting a sand dune system, students will sample, observe and record changes in vegetation and physical conditions through the dune system. | Duration 2 hours. |
Beachcomb: Trash or treasure | During a beach investigation students will discover what the tide has brought up – both natural and human made. Natural items on the beach tell us about the marine ecosystem just offshore without the need to get wet. This beach wrack is a valuable resource to many animals. Students can also collect data that will be sent to the Australian Microplastics Assessment Project (AUSMAP) and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. Let us know when booking if you want to include the data collection component as part of your activity. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Sustainable Fishing | Port Phillip bay has a long history of fishing, develop your students’ sustainable fishing skills and knowledge while out on the bay. All gear is provided. If you would like to take your catch home, please bring ice and a cooler or catch and release. | Duration 2.5 hours. |
Pt Lonsdale Freshwater Wonders | Aquatic invertebrates are integral to food webs. Students will collect samples from a nearby waterway and identify and group animals according to sensitivity to a water ways health. Using the animals found, students will show the relationships between the organisms from this freshwater environment. | Duration 1.5 hours. . |
Costs for year 7 and 8 activities
YEARS 7 and 8 | ||||
Activity | Activity Time | Price | Cost per additional student | |
Sink or Swim: structure function and food chains | 1hour 30mins | $300.00 | $15 (for each additional student up to a maximum of | |
Heads, tails, fins and scales: Fish Investigation (Session is 1 hr in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium) | 1hour 30mins | $360.00 | $18 | |
Rocky Shore Diversity | 1hour 30mins | $300.00 | $15 | |
Dynamic Dunes: Sand Dune Investigation (Sessions is 1.5 hrs in the field; 30 mins in the aquarium) | 2 hours | $300.00 | $15 |
All YEAR LEVELS. | ||||
Activity | Activity Time | Price | Cost per additional student | |
Marine Biology Cruise : Marine life in | 2 hours 30 mins | $780.00 | Flat rate for groups of | |
Swan Bay Canoe Explorers Note: Teachers may be included in the ratios depending on personal canoe experience and competence. | 2 hours 30 mins | - | Flat rate for groups of | |
$360.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
$720.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
Biodiversity in the Sea: Shore snorkel Note: Teachers may be included in the ratios depending on personal snorkel experience and competence. | 2 hours 30 mins | - | Flat rate for groups of | |
$360.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
$720.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
Sustainable Fishing (boat based fishing) (Session is 2 hours on the boat and 30 minutes in the centre | 2 hours 30 mins | $850.00 | Flat rate for groups of all gear and bait provided; assistance with (fishing) |
Levels 9 and 10 Indoor programs
All indoor programs include time in the MFDC Aquarium. This is included in the duration times listed.
Environmental Change | Our world is changing. Students will investigate some of the issues facing our marine and freshwater ecosystems such as pollution and climate change. How can we manage our fisheries in a changing environment? | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Structure of a community: tube worm investigation | Tube worms (Galeolaria sp.) live in a colony and a community of other organisms form around them. This laboratory session will examine the organisms found in the Galeolaria community and student will collect data to "test" the ecological concept of pyramids of numbers and provides students with the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of food webs and energy transfer. | Duration 2 hours. |
Heads, tails, fins and scales: Fish Investigation | A variety of fish will be examined and comparisons made of the body structures, gut contents, internal organs and other specialised structures. Where do these organisms fit in terms of food chains and food webs and how can they be affected by human activities such as fishing? | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Levels 9 and 10 Outdoor programs
All outdoor programs include a session (30 mins) in the MFDC aquarium before or after your program. This is included in the duration times listed. Some programs are tide dependent so we may not be able to book your preferred time and date.
Marine biology cruise | This boat cruise provides the perfect opportunity to investigate the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem and to explore the many uses of our bay as a resource and the potential conflicts that can arise. Students will examine organisms from a sample taken of drifting seaweed of Port Phillip and observe their amazing structures that help them survive in the sea. The cruise also visits an Australian Fur Seal haul out site and Australasian Gannet colony in Port Phillip. | Duration 2.5 hours |
Rocky shore diversity | Students explore the diversity and investigate the biotic and abiotic components of a rocky shore ecosystem. How do organisms survive in the harsh intertidal area of a rocky shore platform and discover the fantastic adaptations these organisms have to help them survive. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Mudflat diversity | Students explore the diversity and investigate the biotic and abiotic components of a seagrass and mudflat ecosystem. Students will sample various micro-habitats to become familiar with the inhabitants and the importance of this international significant area. | Duration 1.5. hours |
Biodiversity in the sea: Shore snorkel (terms 1 and 4 only) | The seagrass and rocky reef off Queenscliff beach is a great ecosystem to closely observe a variety of interdependent marine animals and plants while appreciating Victoria's marine diversity. All gear (mask, snorkel, wetsuits) provided. | Duration 2.5 hours. Teacher : Student Ratio |
Swan Bay canoe explorers | Learn the basics of canoeing while exploring the diversity and investigating the biotic and abiotic components of a seagrass and mudflat ecosystem. Students will observe and sample the mudflat and seagrass habitat to become familiar with the inhabitants and the importance of this internationally significant area. | Duration 2.5 hours. Maximum number of participants: 16. $300 up to 8 students $600 up to 16 students |
Dynamic dunes: Sand dune investigation | Coastal environments are tough! To survive, plants must cope with salt, wind, shifting sands, low nutrients and human impacts. While moving through a sand dune system, students will sample, observe and record changes in vegetation and physical conditions. | Duration 2 hours |
Coastal environmental change and management | An understanding of coastal processes is needed for effective management. This field trip allows students to see firsthand the effectiveness of strategies implemented in Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff to manage and protect the coastal environment. | Duration 2.0 hours. |
Beachcomb: trash or treasure | During a beach investigation students will discover what the tide has brought up – both natural and human made. Natural items on the beach tell us about the marine ecosystem just offshore without the need to get wet. This beach wrack is a valuable resource to many animals. Students can also collect data that will be sent to the Australian Microplastics Assessment Project (AUSMAP) and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. Let us know when booking if you want to include the data collection component as part of your activity. | Duration 1.5 hours. |
Sustainable Fishing | Port Phillip bay has a long history of fishing, develop your students’ sustainable fishing skills and knowledge while out on the bay. All gear is provided. If you would like to take your catch home, please bring ice and a cooler or you can choose to catch and release. | Duration 2.5 hours. |
Costs for year 9 and 10 activities
YEARS 9 and 10 | |||
Activity | Activity Time | Price | Cost per additional student |
Environmental Change | 1hour 30mins | $300.00 | $15 |
Heads, tails, fins and scales: Fish Investigation (Session is 1 hr in the laboratory; 30 mins in the aquarium) | 1hour 30mins | $360.00 | $18 |
Structure of a Community: Tube worm investigation | 2 hours | $450.00 | $18 |
Rocky Shore Diversity | 1hour 30mins | $300.00 | $15 |
Dynamic Dunes: Sand Dune Investigation | 2 hours | $300.00 | $15 |
Coastal Environmental Change and Management (Session is 1.5 hrs in the field via bus; 30 mins in the aquarium) | 2 hours | $300.00 | $15 |
All YEAR LEVELS. | ||||
Activity | Activity Time | Price | Cost per additional student | |
Marine Biology Cruise : Marine life in | 2 hours 30 mins | $780.00 | Flat rate for groups of | |
Swan Bay Canoe Explorers Note: Teachers may be included in the ratios depending on personal canoe experience and competence. | 2 hours 30 mins | - | Flat rate for groups of | |
$360.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
$720.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
Biodiversity in the Sea: Shore snorkel Note: Teachers may be included in the ratios depending on personal snorkel experience and competence. | 2 hours 30 mins | - | Flat rate for groups of | |
$360.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
$720.00 | Flat rate for groups of Teacher : Student Ratio | |||
Sustainable Fishing (boat based fishing) (Session is 2 hours on the boat and 30 minutes in the centre | 2 hours 30 mins | $850.00 | Flat rate for groups of all gear and bait provided; assistance with (fishing) |