Welcome to Week 3 of GO WILD!
Welcome to week 3 or day 3 if you are having One Wild Week!
Just like last week we have all the resource links, running order suggestions, discussion topics, useful questions and additional links right here for you to access and share.
This week is going to be total rubbish! As we investigate the threats to wildlife. But don’t worry it won’t be a day of doom and gloom as we investigate the action that can be taken to counteract the threats.
So let’s discover what the problems are so that we can work out the solution…
GO WILD – Week 3 – Total Rubbish! – RESOURCE PACK
Resource pack includes:
- Week 3 – Step-by-step Guide for Educators
- Printable resources
- Links to video content
Step 1: Introduction Video
Todays introduction video will introduce your pupils to the threats faced by species around the world and in the UK. Please ask your pupils to have a pen and paper to hand while watching.
- Share the introduction video
Resources & links:
Step 2: Mindful moments
During previous session you have used your senses to get an idea of what is sharing your local environment. Today’s activity is slightly different. We will be using our senses again but this time not only be in search of evidence of wildlife but also evidence of humans.
- Share Mindful Moments activity
Resources & links:
Step 3: Investigate threats to native species
Many of us are lucky enough to have gardens, but what role do they play in the live and threats faced by native species. Our UK native species threats game starts to explore these questions.
- Share native species threats game
Resources & links:
Step 4: The rubbish bit
We did warn you that this week would be a bit rubbish and this is the part of the session when we talk actual rubbish, litter. Huge amounts of litter are dropped or escape from bins/tips every day in the UK. Where does it end up and how long will it stay there? As your pupils to take a look at the threats to marine species poster and have a go at the decomposition activity.
- Share Threats to Marine Species Poster
- Share Decomposition Activity
Resources & links:
Step 5: UK zoos working with UK species
Chester Zoo is not alone in thinking that our UK species are important BIAZA (The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) recently highlighted how important the work of UK zoos is for the survival of UK species.
- Share In Our Hands video
Here at Chester zoo we are involved in a number of UK species projects and work with lots of different partners.
- Share Conservation case studies
- Share Great Sundew Reintroduction to Cheshire
We hope that these case studies have inspired your pupils. It’s their turn now create their own conservation case study with our creative writing activity. In this activity, your pupils will become conservationists learning about the plight of their chosen species, this could be one we have discussed already or another UK species that they are interested in. (Please do remind your pupils that we’ve looked at plants and animals).
Your pupils will be ‘travelling’ to the habitat of their chosen species to report back to peers about the threats it faces and what can be done to conserve the remaining populations. We have created example story based on orangutans and palm oil for inspiration, and the creative writing activity sheet explains the structure for their stories as well as providing some tips for story writing.
Of course if you have experienced story writers perhaps you could challenge them to create a piece based on a different style of writing, e.g. newspaper article, script for a play, a transcript for a podcast.
- Share Creative Writing Activity
- Share Creative Writing Example
Resources & links:
Step 6: What we can all do
Zoos across the UK are working hard for native UK species but we can all make a difference. One of the things that we can do is think about the rubbish we are producing and what we do with it. Does it need to be thrown away? We have created two activities to get your pupils thinking.
- Share Reduce, reuse, recycle
- Share Compost Conundrum
Resources & links:
Step 7: Get outdoors
A great way to wind down after all of today’s hard work would be to get outdoors. As we have been talking about rubbish this week why not go on a litter picking walk to take direct action to help wildlife in their local area. Don’t forget to share appropriate health and safety guidance with your pupils for this activity.
Your pupils may also like to repeat a wildlife survey too.
- Share Wildlife Survey Links
Resources & links:
15 minute ideas for immersing yourself in local nature
(Resource created by our partners, RECORD)
Step 8: And finally…
We really hope you have enjoyed this first session of our Go Wild programme and are looking forward to session 4. We would love to hear and see what you and your pupils have got up to today so don’t forget to share with us and inspire others!
Join our Conservation Education & Engagement Facebook Community Group
Use #GoWildwithCZ
Record the wildlife you see using this form.
Before you go…
Just a reminder before you go that if any of your pupils have questions or if you would like to delve a little deeper into the subject…
We have created a Go Wild Virtual Workshop to complement this programme. The session delves a little deeper into the world of our native species and the conservation work that is going on at Chester Zoo. We have designed this interactive session to fit in at any stage of the programme.
We also have our 25 minute Ask Chester Zoo workshops that are perfect to give your pupils the opportunity to ask any questions to us that may arise during the course of your Go Wild project.