Looking for animal activities to bring your learning to life?

We’ve got a flock of educational resources to help. Grouped by Key Stage as well as being National Curriculum linked, you’re sure to find something to assist you before, during or after a visit to London Zoo – or even simply to support your learning in the classroom. 

If you're a home educator, all of our 'At School' resources are perfectly designed to be used for your home learning too!

Get those brains whirring, fascination flourishing, and young conservationists exploring even more about what makes the animal kingdom so totally, utterly WILD. 

Teacher Guides to London Zoo

Maximise the learning on your London Zoo trip with one of our teacher guides! Designed to align with topics on the National Curriculum, each guide provides recommendations on what to see, top tips for visiting those animals, and information to share with your students at each habitat.

 

Endangered Animals Teacher GuideA guide for teachers on endangered species at London Zoo, and the human-caused issues that affect these species in the wild.DOWNLOAD
Rainforest Teacher GuideA guide for teachers on rainforest animal species that can be seen at London Zoo.Download
Adaptations Teacher GuideA guide for teachers on animals that have unique adaptations at London Zoo.Download
Evolution Links at London ZooA short guide for teachers on how to link your London Zoo trip to an evolution topic.DOWNLOAD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Animal Artists

Calling all mini Pablo Pig-cassos and Andy Warthogs! Grab a pencil and let’s draw some furry friends!

Download drawing activity 

Rhyme Time - Local Wildlife 

Match the picture of the local wildife to it's rhyme and then colour them in.

Download activity 

Rhyme Time - Zoo Animals

Match the picture of the zoo animal to it's rhyme and then colour them in.

Download activity 

Rhyme Time - Zoo Animals
Key Stage 1

Scroll down to look for your curriculum topic and find related resources for use at the zoo or at home/school. 

Key stage 1 Habitats and Adaptations

At School School Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivityDownload
Design a BugChoose a habitat and design a bug to live there.WorksheetDownload
HabitatsDraw the animals that you might see in four different habitats.WorksheetDownload
At the ZooBehaviour study bookletUse this template to carry out your very own animal behaviour study.ActivityDownload

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify and Classify Animals 

At School Animal GroupsMatch the animal to it's group - bird, mammal or reptile?WorksheetDownload
School Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivity Download
At the ZooAnimal LifecyclesExplore the lifecycles of different groups of animals around London ZooWorksheetDownload

 

 

 

 

 

Lifecycles 

At the ZooAnimal LifecyclesExplore the lifecycles of different groups of animals around London ZooWorksheetDownload

 

 

Maths: number graphs and measurements

At SchoolZookeeper MathsUse maths to help our zoo keepers count their animals.Worksheet

Worksheet

Answers

School Bug huntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheet.ActivityDownload
Animal SurveySurvey your family and friends and display the results.WorksheetDownload

 

Working Scientifically

At SchoolSchool Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivityDownload
At The ZooAnimal Behaviour Study BookletUse this template to carry out your very own animal behaviour study.Activity Download

 

 

 

 

Butterfly on a leaf
Key stage 2

Scroll down to look for your curriculum topic and find related resources for use at the zoo or at home/school. 

Key stage 2 Science

Working Scientifically: gathering, recording and presenting real world data

At SchoolSchool Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivityDownload
At The ZooBehaviour study bookletUse this template to carry out your very own animal behaviour study.Activity Download

Endangered Species and Conservation

At SchoolAngels of WalesDiscover the amazing Angel shark and explore its conservation with this interactive EbookInteractive EbookE-Book
Instant Wild: Exploring Endangered Species Help ZSL’s scientists protect animals all around the world and learn about endangered species with this worksheet and our Instant Wild appWorksheetDownload

Habitats and Adaptations

At SchoolAnimal art - design an enclosure    Try your hand at designing an animal enclosure, taking into account the animals needs.ActivityDownload
Design a Zoo ProjectTry your skills at designing your own zoo to a budget! ActivityDownload
School Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivityDownload
Happy Hippos    Learn all about pygmy hippos using these lesson plans.    Lesson PlansDownload
At The ZooBehaviour study bookletUse this template to carry out your very own animal behaviour study.ActivityDownload
Rainforest Survival SkillsExplore different animal adaptations around the zoo using this worksheet.WorksheetDownload
Instant Wild: Exploring Habitats, Adaptations and Food ChainsHelp ZSL’s scientists protect animals all around the world with the Instant WildApp, and explore the habitats and adaptation of the animals living there. WorksheetDownload

Food Chains

At SchoolAnimal DietsExplore the diets of different animals and investigate food chains. Make a poster with your findings!WorksheetDownload
Instant Wild: Exploring Habitats, Adaptations and Food ChainsHelp ZSL’s scientists protect animals all around the world with the Instant WildApp, and explore the habitats and adaptation of the animals living there. WorksheetDownload

Identification and Classification of Animals

At SchoolClassification of InvertebratesExplore classification and introduce your class to different invertebrate groups using these activities. A perfect introduction to the School Bug HuntActivityDownload
School Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivityDownload
Instant Wild: Exploring Endangered Species Help ZSL’s scientists protect animals all around the world and learn about endangered species with this worksheet and our Instant Wild appWorksheetDownload
Instant Wild: Exploring Habitats, Adaptations and Food ChainsHelp ZSL’s scientists protect animals all around the world with the Instant Wild App, and explore the habitats and adaptation of the animals living there. WorksheetDownload
At the ZooAnimal LifecyclesExplore the lifecycles of different groups of animals around London ZooWorksheetDownload
Classifying AnimalsExplore different animal groups around the zoo using this worksheet.WorksheetDownload
Butterfly metamorphosis, monarch butterfly emerging from pupa.

Maths

At SchoolFeeding Time at the ZooUse your maths skills to work out how much food the ZSL education team need in order to feed their animals.WorksheetDownload
Design a Zoo ProjectTry your skills at designing your own zoo to a budget! ActivityDownload
School Bug HuntRun a bug hunt at school using this animal spotters sheetActivityDownload

English

At SchoolDesign a Zoo ProjectTry your skills at designing your own zoo to a budget! ActivityDownload
Happy Hippos Learn all about pygmy hippos using these lesson plans.    Collection of Lesson PlansDownload
Pygmy hippo at London zoo

Art and Design

At SchoolDesign a Zoo ProjectTry your skills at designing your own zoo to a budget! ActivityDownload
Animal art - design an enclosure  Try your hand at designing an animal enclosure, taking into account the animals needs.ActivityDownload
Happy Hippos Learn all about pygmy hippos using these lesson plans.    Collection of Lesson PlansDownload
Key stage 3

Scroll down to look for your curriculum topic and find related resources for use at the zoo or at home/school. 

Key stage 3 science

Working Scientifically: scientific enquiry using real world data

At School and at the ZooDesign and run a behaviour studyDesign and run an animal behaviour study using this guide.ActivityDownload
At SchoolClimate Change and AnimalsUse this workbook to explore the truth about climate change and the impact it's having on species around the world.Independent WorkbookDownload

Endangered Species and Conservation

At SchoolInstant Wild: Exploring Endangered Animals and ConservationWith ZSL’s Instant Wild app you can take part in real life conservation work. Use the app alongside this worksheet to explore the treats animals are facing around the world, their IUCN status and how conservationists are helping. Consider what actions in your own life could positively impact nature, and draft a letter to your MP.WorksheetDownload
Climate Change and AnimalsUse this workbook to explore the truth about climate change and the impact it's having on species around the world.Independent WorkbookDownload
Modern Zoo ChallengeUse this challenge to explore the topic of conservation at ZSL and it's two zoos.WorksheetDownload
At the ZooSave a Species Booklet Investigate the a chosen species and put forward an argument for why it should be conserved.WorksheetDownload

Climate Change

At School Climate Change and AnimalsUse this workbook to explore the truth about climate change and the impact it's having on species around the worldIndependent WorkbookDownload
Climate Change - Real Life ExamplesUse this powerpoint to illustrate some of the real life effects of climate change on animalsLesson Materials

Slides

Notes

Ecosystems and changeExplore the impacts of environmental changes on an ecosystem.WorksheetDownload

Ecosystems and food webs

At SchoolEcosystems and Food websUse this workbook to explore the interdependent nature of ecosystems. Including questions on food chains, trophic levels, pyramids of biomass and food webs, this resource covers the real life impact of change on an ecosystem, using a ZSL conservation story as a focus. Independent WorkbookDownload
Instant Wild: Exploring Ecosystems and BiodiversityWith ZSL’s Instant Wild app you can take part in real life conservation work. Use the app alongside this worksheet to explore ecosystems around the world.WorksheetDownload
Ecosystems and changeExplore the impacts of environmental changes on an ecosystem.WorksheetDownload
Explore the arctic ecosystemDiscover how species in the arctic interact with this worksheet, perfect for revision or lesson recap. WorksheetDownload
Tricky TrawlingCreated by scientists at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, our Tricky Trawling game explores the impacts of unsustainable fishing practices such as seabed trawling on the unique ecosystem of Greenland's deep sea floor. Use the game with these activities to explore sustainability and ecosystems.Activities

The Game

Activities

 

Sustainability

At SchoolInvestigating SustainabilityExplore the topic of sustainability using ZSL as a case study.Activity

Worksheet

Answers

Tricky TrawlingCreated by scientists at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, our Tricky Trawling game explores the impacts of unsustainable fishing practices such as seabed trawling on the unique ecosystem of Greenland's deep sea floor. Use the game with these activities to explore sustainability and ecosystems.Activities

The Game

Activities

 

Art and Design

At the ZooEnclosure DesignEvaluate the pros and cons of an enclosure at London ZooWorksheetDownload

 

Maths - ratio, proportion and rates of change

At SchoolZookeeper MathsDiscover how zookeepers use maths in their work at care for animals at London ZooWorksheet

Worksheet

Answers

Tricky Trawling Homepage
Key stage 4

Scroll down to look for your curriculum topic and find related resources for use at the zoo or at home/school. 

Sustainability

At SchoolInvestigating SustainabilityExplore the topic of sustainability using ZSL as a case study.Activity

Worksheet

Answers

 

Working Scientifically: scientific enquiry using real world data

 

At School and at the ZooDesign and run a behaviour studyDesign and run an animal behaviour study using this guide.ActivityDownload
At SchoolClimate Change and AnimalsUse this workbook to explore the truth about climate change and the impact it's having on species around the world.Independent WorkbookDownload

 

Adaptations, Natural Selection and Evolution

At School and at the ZooDesign and run a behaviour studyDesign and run an animal behaviour study using this guide.ActivityDownload

 

Endangered Species and Conservation

At SchoolInstant Wild: Exploring Endangered Animals and ConservationWith ZSL’s Instant Wild app you can take part in real life conservation work. Use the app alongside this worksheet to explore the treats animals are facing around the world, their IUCN status and how conservationists are helping. Consider what actions in your own life could positively impact nature, and draft a letter to your MP.WorksheetDownload
Ethical Animal Debate TopicsUse these debate topics to explore the tricky decisions that must be made in zoos and consider things from multiple perspectives.ActivityDownload
Climate Change and AnimalsUse this workbook to explore the truth about climate change and the impact it's having on species around the world.Independent WorkbookDownload
Modern Zoo ChallengeUse this challenge to explore the topic of conservation at ZSL and it's two zoos.WorksheetDownload
At the ZooSave a Species Booklet Investigate the a chosen species and put forward an argument for why it should be conserved.WorksheetDownload

 

Ethics and Debate

At SchoolEthical Animal Debate TopicsUse these debate topics to explore the tricky decisions that must be made in zoos and consider things from multiple perspectives.ActivityDownload
 Modern Zoo ChallengeUse this challenge to explore the topic of conservation at ZSL and it's two zoos.WorksheetDownload

 

Ecosystems and Foodwebs

At SchoolEcosystems and FoodwebsUse this workbook to explore the interdependent nature of ecosystems. Including questions on food chains, trophic levels, pyramids of biomass and food webs, this resource covers the real life impact of change on an ecosystem, using a ZSL conservation story as a focus. Independent WorkbookDownload
Instant Wild: Exploring Ecosystems and BiodiversityWith ZSL’s Instant Wild app you can take part in real life conservation work. Use the app alongside this worksheet to explore ecosystems around the world.WorksheetDownload
Tricky TrawlingCreated by scientists at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, our Tricky Trawling game explores the impacts of unsustainable fishing practices such as seabed trawling on the unique ecosystem of Greenland's deep sea floor. Use the game with these activities to explore sustainability and ecosystems.Activities

The Game

Activities

Tricky Trawling Homepage
16+

Exploring In-Situ and Ex-Situ conservation

Critically compare the benefits and limitations of these different conservation methods

Download

Measuring Population Size Using the Mark and Recapture Method

Use the mark-recapture method to investigate the size of a woodlouse population using this guide.

Download

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Visual and Sensory Stories

These stories can be used to help autistic and neurodivergent people feel prepared for their visit:

London Zoo's visual story    London Zoo's sensory story

London Zoo Sensory Story

Ready to book your visit?

Two primary school students at London Zoo on a school trip
Take your learning out of the classroom and into the wild

Educational trips to London Zoo

Everything you need to book an educational visit to London Zoo, and how to get the most from your trip.

Audiomoves at the Zoo

Audiomoves logo with animals

A podcast for little ones to move to, created in partnership with Peut-Être Theatre 

Throughout the series you'll meet lots of animals and hear interviews between children and zookeepers as they find out all about how animals move, eat, sleep and play. 

In each episode you'll learn about a different animal, from lions to meerkats to giraffes. You can listen along and waddle like a penguin, strut like a flamingo, charge like an elephant, and flutter like a butterfly.

Audiomoves at the Zoo is like a radio show for kids, with short episodes that they can follow the actions to, or simply chill out and listen along. Suitable for children aged 4+ of all abilities.

Listen via Spotify, Google, Apple or our website - wherever you get your podcasts!

Never miss an episode - subscribe now!

Audiomoves at the Zoo is funded by Arts Council England, with support from Phoenix Court, the Unicorn Theatre, The Place, Full House Theatre and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Peut-Être Theatre is supported by Arts Council England, Backstage Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Foyle Foundation and Phoenix Court