role of the zookeeper.
Pupils will have the opportunity to meet and quiz a keeper. They will make observations of animal care and welfare in the zoo and then create some enrichment devices in teams. The session will focus on the skills a keeper needs to have and how a zoo works.
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National Curriculum Links
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Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat
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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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Identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
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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.
evolution and inheritance.
In this fun and engaging workshop, pupils will have the opportunity to meet some of our birds of prey up close in order to discover some of the fascinating adaptations each of them have made in order to be successful predators. They will be able to learn more about beak styles through our 'battle of the beaks' challenge and will make connections between adaptations, gene mutations and survival.
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National Curriculum Links
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Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents;
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Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.
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Learning Objective
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I can describe animal adaptations and discuss the connection between habitats, animal behaviour and animal appearance.
Learning Outcome
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Children will understand the way certain animals have adapted to suit their environment.
Pre-visit Suggestions
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Discuss key vocabulary (predators, prey, survival, characteristics, adaptations, camouflage, mimicry, behaviour)
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. We will introduce children to examples from many of the animals classes and discuss famous scientist Carl Linnaeus.
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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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Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals including pets)
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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.
In the Spring and Summer Terms, pupils will be involved in building a bug hotel and data collecting. They will use their observations of the types of invertebrates who visit Northumberland Zoo to design and build a suitable minibeast hotel. There will be an element of discovery as pupils find out about the biodiversity on site by recording and collecting data in the woodland area
During the Autumn term, pupils will focus on the endangered animals and learn about the importance of conservation work, as well as the impact humans are having on the planet.
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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 can make connections between local and global issues, they can collect and interpret data during field research and can make suggestions for how to live a more sustainable life.
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 upper key stage 2 pupils, expanding on the work that they have already undertaken looking at habitats, adaptations and classification. Pupils will combine their knowledge and understanding of food webs and will assess the effectiveness of different adaptations to make effective predators/prey animals.
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National Curriculum Links
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Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution
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Learning Objective
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I know that some animals eat others and that animals have different adaptations for survival
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.
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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.