‘VCES The Christmas Beetle who Lost its Way‘ has been designed for Years F-2 high ability students.  Dr Shasta Henry, Entomologist, Adelaide museum & Sophie Honeyman, Ecolinc team member, will take your class on this magical discovery journey.  Celebrate with Buzz the Christmas Beetle, as he spans the outback on his way to the annual Christmas Bush Beetle Bash. 

The program consists of 2 workshops with a 15 minute break in-between. 

In the first workshop, students will learn how to identify the features of this unique, iridescent beetle while celebrating its role in maintaining our environment.  Students are provided with art materials to complete their very own Christmas tree decoration featuring Buzz.   After a short break, students will dance to a special Christmas Beetle song, and  construct a museum style bug box to showcase a variety of Christmas Beetle species.

IMPORTANT PREPARATION DETAILS:

1. There are limited numbers of tickets available.  Only ONE ticket of up to 25 high ability students per school for each event. 
2. NOTE: Rural and regional students will be a priority in the event of large booking demand.
3. Program flyer VCES The Christmas Beetle who Lost its Way

How to book your group

1. Book your students into one of the times on either of the dates available.
2. Tickets can be booked using the booking form on this website (NOTE: one class is for a group of up to 25 students)
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 F-2
• Duration: Includes 2 workshops with a 15 minute break in between (1 hour 45 minutes)

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

No prior knowledge is required.

In this video conference students will:

• Explore beetle body parts
• Link different parts of a beetle with their functions
• Use visual arts processes
• Explore, generate and communicate design ideas

In this video conference students will:

• Create a Christmas tree decoration featuring a Christmas beetle
• Listen to a storybook with Australian environmental illustrations
• Complete a diagram representing beetle body parts
• Engage in discussion questions involving various Christmas beetle species
• Construct a museum style bug box and categorise some beetles into it
• Dance to a theme based song

Science – Science Understanding

• Plants and animals have observable features that can be used to group them in different ways (VC2S2U01)
• Plants and animals have external features that perform different functions to enable their survival; in plants these features include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, bulbs, trunks and branches while different features in animals enable them to move, breathe, eat and respond to their environment (VC2S2U03)
• Plants and animals have basic needs, including air, water, food and shelter; the places where they live meet those needs (VC2S2U02)

Design and Technologies: Creating Designed Solutions

• Explore, generate and communicate design ideas through describing, drawing or modelling, using manual and digital tools (VC2TDE2D02)

Visual Arts: Creating

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