Chester Zoo want to inspire and empower your students to join us in our mission of Preventing Extinction. We are excited to offer this unique package which you can tailor to your school. Each day includes a fun and interactive show for the whole school, and a number of curriculum-linked workshops for individual classes.
To check availability and to book, please contact learning@chesterzoo.org
WHOLE SCHOOL SHOWS
HABITATS AND ADAPTATIONS
Animals live in a huge variety of habitats right around the world, but how do they survive?
Join us as we explore some of the awesome adaptations that help animals to thrive in their habitats, and think about what might happen if those habitats disappeared.
In this interactive show students will be introduced to how adaptations can help animals to survive in their habitats. Together, we’ll recreate some of the amazing adaptations of the animal kingdom during practical demonstrations, and explore how animals are suited to their habitats.
But what happens if those habitats change? We’ll also explore how humans alter habitats, the impact that has on wildlife, and what we can all do to help.
Age group: Reception – Year 6
Duration: 45 minutes
Learning Space: School hall. Access to projector/screen, laptop/computer, and sound is necessary.
PREVENTING EXTINCTION
All around the world animals are disappearing, but why?
Join us as we discover some endangered animals, and find out what’s happening to them in the wild.
In this interactive show we’ll use artefacts and activities to explore the threats of pollution, deforestation, and the illegal wildlife trade, and discover the impact these have on wildlife.
But how can we stop these animals from becoming extinct? We’ll also learn how we can all make a difference, and the actions we can take to help protect our wonderful wildlife.
Age group: Reception – Year 6
Duration: 45 minutes
Learning Space: School hall. Access to projector/screen, laptop/computer, and sound is necessary.
BUILD YOUR OWN ZOO
If you were building a zoo, which animals would you include? What habitat would they need? What would you feed them? And why do we need zoos?
Answer all these questions, and more, as we create our own zoo during this interactive show!
Using artefacts and activities, we’ll explore the role of zoos, the habitat and nutrition the animals need, and some of the different careers within the zoo. We will explain why science is key to the running of modern zoos.
Age group: Reception – Year 6
Duration: 45 minutes
Learning Space: School hall. Access to projector/screen, laptop/computer, and sound is necessary.
KEY STAGE 1 CLASSROOM WORKSHOPS
MINI-BEASTS
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, why we need them to be able to survive and how we can help them!
Age group: Year 1 and 2
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is preferable.
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
The dark can be scary or fascinating. This workshop focuses on a group of animals who thrive in it. We look at how they have adapted to life in the darkness and the senses they use to find food and avoid predators.
Using a number of different artefacts, your students will explore different adaptations of some nocturnal animals 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: Year 1 and 2
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is necessary.
AFRICA
What different habitats can you find in Africa? Why does the majestic giraffe need our help? How do some species like meerkats, okapi, vultures and cheetahs survive in very different habitats? Using artefacts and fun activities we will explore this vast continent. We will look at why some species are threatened with extinction and what Chester zoo is doing to help them.
Age group: Year 1 and 2
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Large classroom floor space. Access to laptop, sound and screen set up is necessary.
KEY STAGE 2 CLASSROOM WORKSHOPS
HOW CAN WE BE SUSTAINABLE?
Sustainability is a key issue in modern times but how can we act in sustainable ways? How are humans changing environments and how does this harm living things? What does Chester zoo do to ensure a sustainable future?
Through fun activities and discussions we share ways that we can all become more sustainable and help the natural world which is facing extreme pressures.
Age group: Key Stage 2
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Classroom layout – with tables and chairs. Access to projector, computer/laptop and sound necessary.
RAINFORESTS
Why are rainforests so famous for their biodiversity? Why is deforestation happening and what can we do to protect this precious, complex habitat?
We will examine a range of artefacts from different rainforests and learn about some of the amazing species that depend on this habitat. We’ll discuss how rainforest animals have adaptations to help them to survive. Finally, your students will learn what we can do to protect this amazing environment.
Age group: Key Stage 2
Duration: 50 minutes
Capacity: 30 pupils
Learning Space: Classroom layout – with tables and chairs. Access to Projector screen, laptop/computer and sound is necessary.
NUTRITION
Do all of our animals eat the same food? What happens to the food in the digestive system? How many times a day does and elephant go to the toilet? In this activity packed workshop we discover why Chester zoo takes nutrition so seriously.
Students will learn why it is so important to give our amazing species the best diet. We’ll compare the teeth of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores and explore what happens to food once it travels through the digestive system.
Age group: Key Stage 2
Duration: 45 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.