Esso Australia is supporting Phillip Island Nature Parks to teach Prep to Grade 2 students all about the Little Penguin.
During a Chirpy Chicks classroom session, children usually immerse themselves in penguin life through life-like penguin dress-ups, mock-examinations and storytelling.
This year, the Phillip Island Nature Parks Education team has responded to the learning challenges brought about by COVID19 and utilised Esso Australia’s funding to enhance the program, developing a range of short videos and other supporting digital resources.
The resources are designed to support teachers to take students on a journey through the life of the little penguin, using immersive storytelling to dive into a day in the life of a little penguin, exploring their features and adaptations, whether delivered in-person or virtually.
“I’m really excited to have a digital version of the program to engage teachers and young people with science understandings from the Victorian Curriculum,” said Ewan, Phillip Island Nature Parks Education & Interpretation Coordinator.
“We hugely appreciate the support from Esso Australia to let us take this flexible approach, and are looking forward to engaging participants with videos, interactives and a live web session with our Education rangers.”
Education Ranger Claire said it had been an exciting challenge to adapt the program into several online formats to make it accessible no matter what resources the students have access to.
“It is rewarding to know that no students will be excluded from this program," said Claire.
Esso Australia Gippsland Production Manager, Stu Jeffries, said it was fantastic to see Phillip Island Nature Parks adapt the program in the face of COVID19 restrictions.
“It is really pleasing to see Phillip Island Nature Parks rise to the challenge of COVID19 and put our funding towards developing digital resources that will improve the accessibility of the program for students and teachers now and into the future.”