Secrets of Eromanga has been designed for Years 3-4 high ability students.   Palaeontologist Professor Tim Richards from the University of Queensland will lead an exciting presentation followed by a Q&A session.   The theme will be examining the fossil clues from what was once the Eromanga inland sea.  A short break will then be followed by an engaging hands-on session where students will work on a trilobite fossil sketch suited to a paleontological field journal.  They will discover fascinating facts about this now extinct animal as they prepare their sketch.

Program flyer Secrets of Eromanga

How to book your group

1. Book your students into either the morning or afternoon session NOT both.
2. There are only a limited number of video conference dial-in sessions available. To reserve your spot, please fill out the booking form. Remember, each class you sign up for counts as one dial-in session.
3. Download and complete the attached  Student details spreadsheet and email this through to ecolinc@education.vic.gov.au

After your booking is confirmed

Please download the parental invitation and student nomination forms and distribute them to the families of the students.

• VCES Student Nomination Form
• VCES Parent Info

The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) is an initiative funded by the Victorian Government to extend and engage high-ability students across the state. The series provides opportunities for students from Foundation to Year 12 in Government Schools to participate in enrichment learning experiences that challenge their thinking, build advanced skills, and encourage creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. Delivered by specialist organisations and education providers, VCES programs immerse students in authentic, real-world learning beyond the classroom.

Year Level: Year 3-4

Duration: 2 hours

Yes, a kit of resources will be sent to your school

No prior knowledge is required.

In this video conference students will:

• Students will develop and ask thoughtful, relevant questions to a palaeontologist to deepen their understanding of prehistoric life and fossil evidence.
• Students will investigate the types of organisms (such as trilobites) that lived in the Eromanga Sea and their adaptations to marine life.
• Students will examine how different anatomical views (e.g. anterior, posterior, dorsal, ventral) help scientists interpret fossilised remains accurately.
• Students will create a detailed scientific drawing of a trilobite, demonstrating accuracy, proportion, and labelling of key anatomical features.
• Students will make connections between the habitat of trilobites and their physical adaptations (e.g. body segmentation, exoskeleton, eye placement).

In this video conference students will:

• Engage in a Q & A session with a qualified and engaging palaeontologist
• Complete a scientific drawing of a trilobite in a presentation fossil sketchbook
• Explore the range of views including anterior, posterior, lateral and superior and their use and application in palaeontology
• Discuss the trilobites habitat, fossilisation process, and connections to modern day animals

Science -Science as a Human Endeavour

• Data from observations obtained through scientific inquiry can be used to develop explanations of natural phenomena (VC2S4H01)

Science – Science Understanding

• Living things have characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things and things that were once living, including fossils (VC2S4U01)

Science – Science Inquiry

• Observations can be used as a basis for posing questions to identify patterns and relationships, and to predict the outcomes of investigations (VC2S4I01)

Visual Arts – Creating

• Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks that communicate ideas, experiences and observations (VC2AVA2C01)