This is a scenario-based program.

• Climate change has suddenly kicked in. A cataclysmic climate event has occurred; massive floods are predicted and sea levels are rising. 
• A huge scale evacuation of the human population has taken place but in the rush to save the people, all animals have been left behind.  The State Government has put together a rescue plan called ‘The Aark’.  However not all animals can be rescued.  There is only so much room on the Aark, so the Government has called in the experts (the students) to help them decide which animals are going to be saved.

Note:

• This program runs from 9am – 3pm
• Maximum number for students is 80, either from the same school or across schools
• In 2026, this program will run on Monday 17^th August 2026

Students will be given an animal that they will need to research prior to their onsite visit.  They will be the expert for that species and have to advocate for that species on the day ie. Why it should be saved. 

Students will be given an Aark game card that they will be required to fill in with details about their animal and bring this with them on the day. 

The students will, throughout the day, have to argue the case why their animal should go onto the Aark, so it is important that they know some information about their species, why it is important and why it should be saved.

How do we make decisions on which animals to save in the event of a cataclysmic climate event?

In this program students will:

• Research a particular species of animal
• Learn how to advocate for this species by making a presentation, preparing arguments and engaging in discussions
• Learn about a range of other animals including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and birds and their importance to society, in the food web and for our future
• Build negotiation and decision-making skills

Students will:

• Be introduced to the scenario program, information about climate change and the criteria governments use to rescue species from extinction
• Engage in a series of selection sessions to determine which animals will be selected to go on the Aark
• Participate in a workshop to increase their knowledge about animals

Science: Science as a human endeavour

• Multidisciplinary endeavours to advance scientific knowledge make use of people’s different perspectives and worldviews (VC2S8H02)
• Communication of scientific knowledge has a role in informing individual viewpoints, and community policies and regulations (VC2S8H04)

Critical and Creative Thinking: Reasoning

• Ways to identify, structure and communicate a conclusion and its justification where competing claims, and grounds for claims, are analysed and evaluated (VC2CC8R01)
• Reasons for competing claims about matters of fact and matters of value, including consideration of evidence and expertise, and ways to analyse and evaluate competing claims and grounds for claims. (VC2CC8R02)

English: Speaking and listening

• When interacting with others, students explore specialist and technical vocabulary and use language to express social identities. They discuss and present ideas. When speaking to an audience, students deliver structured spoken texts, selecting text types appropriate for purpose and audience, including multimodal or digital elements. They demonstrate an understanding of formal language and use appropriate features of voice.