We can bring the zoo to you! Our Conservation Education Officers come to you with artefacts, resources & activities to inspire and enthuse your pupils. We’ve got lots of workshops available for all Key Stages.
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
RAINFOREST RANGERS
This exciting session will take your young people on a ‘journey’ through the rainforest to discover how it feels, smells and what it sounds like. Along the way we will encounter clues to what we would find living in this fascinating habitat.
Using a variety of real artefacts, musical instruments, smells and sounds, we will take your students on a memorable journey through the rainforest. The students will use all their senses to explore and discover this unusual, noisy, smelly and exciting habitat in their own classroom.
Age group: Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery & Reception)
Duration: 30 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is preferable.
SAFARI EXPLORERS
This exciting session will take your young people on a ‘journey’ across the African grasslands to discover how it feels, smells and what it sounds like. Along the way we will encounter clues to what we would find living in this fascinating place.
Using a variety of real artefacts, musical instruments, smells and sounds, we will take your students on a memorable journey across the African grasslands. The students will use all their senses to explore and discover this unusual, noisy, smelly and exciting habitat in their own classroom.
Age group: Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery & Reception)
Duration: 30 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is preferable.
KEY STAGE 1
MINI-BEASTS
All creatures are fascinating, whether great or small. This workshop looks at some of the smallest animals that are all around us, the mini-beasts. Your students will learn what invertebrates eat, where they live, their adaptations and why they are so important.
Why are mini-beasts so important? We will be finding out about many of our smallest creatures in the world, and why they are so important to our planet.
This workshop will get your young people working together and moving around using a variety of activities, games and artefacts to discover different features of mini-beasts, where they live within the UK, why we need them to be able to survive and how we can help them!
Age group: EYFS/KS1 – Reception-Year 2
Duration: 30-50 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is preferable.
NIGHT TIME CREATURES
The dark can be scary or fascinating. This workshop focuses on a group of animals who thrive in it. Focusing on four species, we look at how they have adapted to life in the darkness and the senses they use to find food and avoid predators. Your student’s senses will be challenged too!
Why do some animals come out at night? In this workshop we’ll find out about lots of different nocturnal creatures and how they have adapted to survive during the night.
Using a number of different artefacts, your students will explore different adaptations of 4 species of nocturnal animal that help them to survive. They will help our rangers to identify certain nocturnal animals by using footprints and find out how they can help these more elusive night-time dwellers.
Age group: EYFS/KS1 – Reception-Year 2
Duration: 30-50 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is necessary.
KEY STAGE 2
LIFE CYCLES
What is a life cycle? During this interactive workshop we will explore what is a life cycle using examples of mammals, amphibians and insects.
During the session, your students will participate in a number of activities and games exploring the lifecycles of a range of different species. Using a selection of real eggs and mystery objects, your students will play ‘whose eggs’ and will learn how diverse the animal kingdom is and the varying ways in which animals grow.
Age group: KS2 – Year 3-6
Duration: 50 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Classroom layout – with tables and chairs. Access to projector, computer/laptop and sound necessary.
WE NEED THE RAINFOREST
Rainforests are being destroyed at the rate of a football pitch every three seconds. In this workshop you’ll learn about the importance of the rainforests to us.
Together, using a number of different artefacts, we’ll be exploring 3 different rainforests and a species living in each. Your students will learn about how rainforests are really important, the layers of the rainforest and about some of the amazing animals that live there. We’ll also discuss how rainforest animals have special adaptations to help them to survive. Finally you will learn what we can do to protect this amazing habitat.
Age group: KS2 – Year 3-6
Duration: 50 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Classroom layout – with tables and chairs. Access to Projector screen, laptop/computer and sound is necessary.
Explore our FREE learning resources
We have LOTS of downloadable learning resources available to you for free, to help support your learning back in the classroom, before and after a visit to Chester Zoo.
BOOK your VISIT
Find all the information you need to book your school visit, and start the countdown to a unique educational experience with Chester Zoo!
What ELSE do we offer?
Whether you want to visit the zoo, have us come to your school or you want to sign up for our virtual zoo visits – or all three – we’re sure we’ve got an offer that will suit your needs. Our team are always happy to help with any enquiries you may have too.