Classifying Animals (KS1)

Classifying Animals is designed to support classroom learning on animal identification and classification. The session will be delivered by a Discovery & Learning Officer who will call you from the Zoo. 

Students will be introduced to different ways in which to classify animals (by animal groups or by diet) and use scientific vocabulary to identify a variety of animals. Supporting materials will be provided to enable students to apply this knowledge by voting on how to group a selection of animals. By using the species we care for at the Zoo, and our conservation work out in the field, we can provide context to your classroom teaching – without your students having to leave the classroom. 

This session involves interactive challenges and lots of open-ended questions to help your students develop and demonstrate their understanding of these topics. It ends with a Q&A where your students can pose their questions to us!

 
Age Group: KS1 (5-7 years old)
Duration: 30 minutes
Capacity: 35 students

Where possible we aim to deliver this session from out in the Zoo with one of our flagship species in the background, but this is not guaranteed and is weather dependent. 

PLEASE NOTE: We use Skype as the platform for delivering the Digital Outreach sessions. If you do not use this in your classroom already, please check with your IT support that it is possible to use Skype at your school (it can sometimes be blocked as it is classed as social media).

 

BOOK NOW BY CALLING US ON 0344 225 1826 or emailing schools@zsl.org

 

Upon booking you will be sent a set up guide including support for setting up the session, a full session outline, key words glossary and pre- & post-session activity suggestions.

Visiting the Zoo too? 

This session can be offered as a standalone session, or can be delivered as a follow up after a Zoo visit.  If you are also visiting one of our Zoos we recommend booking the Hands On! education session (at ZSL London Zoo) or Fur, Feathers and Scales – Investigate! (at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo). If you book your Zoo visit and digital outreach session at the same time we will provide additional student worksheets for use around the Zoo.

A Classifying Animals digital outreach session after your Zoo visit is a great opportunity to review what the students learnt at the Zoo and use their new scientific vocabulary in context by discussing classification and animal diets. 

National Curriculum links:

Year 1 Programme of Study Animals including humans	KS1 Programme of Study Working Scientifically
Identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals Identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores Describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including pets	Asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways Identifying and classifying Using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

 

Intended learning outcomes:

Pupils will be able to:

• Describe and identify key differences between mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish 
• Classify an animal as a mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian or fish based on key physical features
• Identify an animal as a carnivore, herbivore or omnivore based on what they eat 
• Participate in the session through pair sharing, voting activities, or by answering or asking questions. 

Digital Outreach Technology

We use Skype as the platform for delivering the Digital Outreach sessions. If you do not use this in your classroom already, please check with your IT support that it is possible to use Skype at your school (it can sometimes be blocked as it is classed as social media).

An essential, free Test Call is also booked at the time of booking the Digital Outreach session. This enables us to ensure the connection works before the actual session takes place. This test call must happen at least one week before the date of the booked session.

Please have the following information to hand before booking a Digital Outreach session:

• Your Skype name (from the account you will use for the session)
• Contact email for teacher
• Direct phone contact for the day in case of  connection problems
• A suitable date for your test call to take place (between 15:30 and 16:30 Mon-Fri)