This illustration captures the excitement of visitors to the National Museum (now Museums Victoria) when it was located at the University of Melbourne. The central scene depicts the Paul du Chaillu Gorillas family, still on display at Melbourne Museum.

National Science Week: Evolution! (VCES)

What: Museum Staff-led
When: Term 3, Wednesday 13 August
10 to 11am
11:30am to 12:30pm
Duration: Curriculum links & Accessibility & Access Fund
Year level: Years 7 to 10
Minmum student numbers: Minimum 10 students
Maximum student numbers: Maximum 179 students
Cost: This program is only available for government schools, and is free for government schools as part of Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series.
Booking information: Bookings 13 11 02
School visit information

A case of Gorillas, stolen dinosaur eggs, and superfluous whale bones – discover evidence for evolution!

Students will experience

Being in the museum Theatre, to learn about how museums have contributed to the understanding of evolution;
exploring the origin of life on Earth, and seeing amazing fossils in the amazing hands-on galleries;
Hearing about stories of how human perspectives have influence science.

Students will learn

That the theory of evolution by natural selection includes the processes of variation, isolation and adaptation and is supported by evidence including the fossil record,
that the theory explains past and present biodiversity and demonstrates how all organisms have some degree of relatedness to each other
That arguments based on a variety of evidence can be constructed to support conclusions or evaluate claims.

Victorian Curriculum links

Years 9 to 10

Biological sciences

the theory of evolution by natural selection includes the processes of variation, isolation and adaptation and is supported by evidence including the fossil record, biogeography and comparative embryology; the theory explains past and present biodiversity and demonstrates how all organisms have some degree of relatedness to each other
VC2S10U05

Questioning and predicting

investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses can be used in guiding investigations to test and develop explanatory models and relationships
VC2S10I01

Evaluating

arguments based on a variety of evidence can be constructed to support conclusions or evaluate claims, including consideration of any ethical issues and cultural protocols associated with accessing, using or citing secondary data or information
VC2S10I07

Related programs and resources

Self-directed Years K to 10

Dinosaur Walk Gallery Visit

Walk among the skeletons of amazing animals from the past – dinosaurs, flying reptiles and megafauna.

A blue silhouette of a Raptor-esque Australovenator dinosaur illustrated with plants standing in the Gandel Gondwana Gardens

Self-directed Years K to 10

Gandel Gondwana Garden Gallery Visit

Explore Victoria’s ancient landscapes and see creatures that once walked this land, from dinosaurs to megafauna to the ancestors of today’s iconic Australian species.

Visitors experiencing the digital interactive exhibition Antopia at Melbourne Museum.

Self-directed Years F to 8

Antopia Gallery Visit

Step into Antopia, where you’ll shrink to the size of an ant and gain a first-hand understanding of life within a bustling ant colony.