role of the zookeeper.
In this interactive workshop, pupils will get to visit the walk-through enclosures and learn about the 'Five Freedoms' involved in animal care and welfare. They will learn about what a keeper does on a daily basis and have the opportunity to meet a keeper.
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National Curriculum Links
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To find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air).
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Learning Objective
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Consider the needs of animals and how to care for them
Learning Outcome
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Children will understand what skills a zookeeper needs to have and which tools they use to take care of animals;
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Pupils will use observation skills to ask thoughtful questions to the keeper
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Discuss key vocabulary with pupils e.g diet, tools, skills.
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Access the Zoo app to look at the map of the zoo, watch live animal webcams and access more information on the animals.
where do I live?
We look at the different types of habitats that animals can live in and explore how the enclosures we have provided for the animals at the zoo match their needs. Together, we will observe the meerkats and look at their social groupings, as well as their adaptations to suit the environment in which they live. We will then compare the meerkats and their adaptations to some of our cold climate animals such as the arctic foxes, snowy owls and others.
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National Curriculum Links
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Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
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Learning Objective
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I know that there are different types of habitats and that plants & animals are adapted to live in these habitats.
Learning Outcome
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Children will be able to identify features of animals and how these suit the habitat in which they live.
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Discuss key vocabulary with pupils e.g 'habitat', 'ecosystem', 'predator' and 'prey.'
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Download the Northumberland Zoo App and look at the map of the zoo, watch the live animal webcams and access more information on the animals.
growth and development.
This workshop focuses on animal growth, life cycles and how animals care for their offspring. We look at some of the baby animals that we have at the zoo throughout the year (capybara babies in Summer, wallaby babies etc). Children are encouraged to consider the changes that occur as we grow from babies into adults, they also look at some of the smaller animals in the zoo (minibeasts) to get an idea of how animals develop over time.
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National Curriculum Links
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Notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults.
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Learning Objective
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I know that changes take place over time when developing from a baby or egg into an adult.
Learning Outcome
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Children will be able to name some of the adult and baby animals that they encounter in the zoo; Children can produce a life cycle for some animals in the zoo.
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Invite children to look at baby photos of their classmates or teachers, look at the changes that have taken place. Introduce terms such as 'hatching', 'offspring', etc
animal groups & classification.
In this workshop, pupils are invited to look at some of the animals at the zoo close-up in order to learn about which taxonomic group they belong to. They will discover how animals are separated into groups and the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates. Children will be encouraged to make their own connections between their observations in behaviour and appearance to sort animals into their correct groups and will use scientific terminology to describe feeding habits.
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National Curriculum Links
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Identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores;
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Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics.
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Learning Objective
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I can describe the differences between animals from different classes;
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I can correctly identify and name animals based on descriptions of their appearance and behaviour.
Learning Outcome
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Children will be able to use terminology correctly and understand the importance of classifying animals.
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Discuss key vocabulary (predator, prey, vertebrate, invertebrate, consumer, producer etc.)
conservation & you.
This session will either focus on the snow leopards or bees depending on the time of year. In the workshop we will look at where the animals live and what the threats are, we will discuss why they are important and what we can do to help. There will be opportunities for discussion and role-playing.
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National Curriculum Links
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Recognise how the environment may be improved.
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Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.
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Learning Objective
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Find out about how conservation can affect animals;
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Understand the importance of conservation and sustainability;
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Learn about the importance of certain animals within the zoo (crayfish, honey bees, harvest mice etc).
Learning Outcome
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Children will understand that they have a responsibility to lead a sustainable life in order to protect the planet;
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Children will understand what dangers animals are in and why.
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Pupils should look into how the school is addressing issues around the environment;
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Download the Northumberland Zoo App and look at the map of the zoo, watch the live animal webcams and access more information on the animals.
predators & prey.
These sessions are aimed at children who already have a good understanding of different types of animals and are ready to move on to building up their knowledge of food chains/webs. We will look at the different animal diets in the zoo and discuss what makes an effective predator or prey animal based on their characteristics.
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National Curriculum Links
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Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain; identify and name different sources of food
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Learning Objective
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I know that animals get their food from either plants or other animals and can make a simple food web or chain
Learning Outcome
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Children will be able to take part in discussions around the characteristics of predators and prey eg camouflage, forward facing eyes, speed, agility etc.
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Ask the children to do some research on different animals in the zoo, confirm knowledge of habitats and adaptations.