Turn Your Classroom into an Institute Field Station
WELCOME EDUCATORS
The International Institute for the Study of Extremely Questionable Creatures uses remarkable animals, curious claims, humour and storytelling to encourage children to observe, question, investigate and imagine.
Our educational resources are designed for use alongside the Extremely Questionable Creatures podcast, Creature Case Files and classroom investigations — or simply as a starting point for exploring the extraordinary natural world.
Students become Junior Researchers, gathering evidence, questioning claims, recording observations and deciding what the evidence suggests.
Observe. Question. Imagine. Investigate.
THE INSTITUTE APPROACH
Before children can become scientists, artists, writers, inventors or environmentalists, they must first learn to notice the world around them.
The Institute encourages students to slow down, observe carefully, ask questions and discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Every investigation begins with observation.
Every discovery begins with curiosity.
And sometimes the best investigation ends with another question.
DOWNLOADABLE WORKSHEETS
Ready to open a Case File?
Our free printable resources allow students to investigate creatures, examine evidence, record observations, question experts and conduct investigations of their own.
Creature Investigation Worksheet
Follow an official Institute investigation. Record claims, gather evidence, question the information and reach a final classification.
Educator and Library Info Pack
Use investigations for listening groups, displays, school-holiday activities, reading programs and curiosity-led events.
Open Your Own Investigation
Students choose something that makes them curious, develop a question, gather evidence and report their findings.
REAL OR NOT? WORKSHEETS
Our Real or Not? segment is one of our favourite
investigations from the podcast!
Before listening, teachers can download and print the worksheet for their Junior Researchers.
As they listen to the creature interview, students can record clues, question the claims and gather evidence to decide for themselves
is this creature REAL… or NOT?
It’s a fun way to turn listening into an investigation while encouraging critical thinking, comprehension and curiosity.
Listen carefully. Gather the evidence. Make your decision.
DOWNLOADABLE TEACHERS NOTES
Every episode will have an educational component and worksheets,
Teachers notes section with ideas and learning outcomes.
Lesson guides
Discussion Questions
Answer Notes
Curriculum Links
LEARNING THROUGH CURIOSITY
Institute investigations can support learning across a wide range of curriculum areas.
Science & Scientific Enquiry
Students can explore:
- animal adaptations and behaviour
- habitats and ecosystems
- biodiversity and conservation
- classification and life cycles
- endangered and threatened species
- careful observation
- questioning and hypothesis formation
- evidence gathering
- recording findings
- drawing conclusions
- distinguishing evidence, opinion and speculation
Art & Creativity
Junior Researchers can:
- create scientific illustrations
- draw creatures and habitats
- design maps and posters
- invent creatures
- develop scientific names
- create behaviours and adaptations
- design ecosystems
- build fictional worlds
- combine scientific knowledge with imagination
Literacy
Investigations provide opportunities for:
- non-fiction comprehension
- creative and descriptive writing
- report writing
- persuasive and procedural writing
- interviews and dialogue
- inference
- comparing information and sources
- fact versus opinion
- storytelling and world-building
Geography & Environmental Learning
Investigations can explore:
- Australian environments
- continents and world ecosystems
- animal distribution
- habitat mapping
- human impacts on wildlife
- threatened species
- sustainability
- caring for local environments
Drama & Communication
Bring an investigation to life through:
- role play
- creature interviews
- field researcher reports
- press conferences
- investigation briefings
- re-enactments
- presenting evidence to the class