Primary Education Outreach

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s Learning Team can now visit your school classrooms.

Hosted by a member of our Learning team, all workshops are designed to meet specific National Curriculum links that directly relate to our international wildlife conservation work.

Our outreach workshops can be standalone sessions or used to extend learning before or after a Zoo visit. See below for further information about the sessions we offer.

These hands-on interactive school workshops run Monday to Friday during term time, subject to availability.

Book now

Please note: no live animals are used during these sessions.

Primary Education Outreach

Pricing:

Let the zoo’s Learning Team come to you. Our outreach workshops are designed for up to 35 pupils.

School Location	Houghton Regis, Dunstable and Luton	Outside these areas
Daily Capacity	Maximum of 4 workshops and 1 assembly per day (free whole school assembly when 2 or more sessions booked)
Cost of workshop	£45.00 per workshop (max. capacity 35 pupils)	£45.00 per session (max. capacity 35 pupils)
Cost of Assembly	£75.00 or free when booked with 2 or more workshops	£75.00 or free when booked with 2 or more workshops
Cost of travel	No charge	50p per mile (Maximum of 15 miles from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo)

Choose your workshops from the choices below:

Exploring Habitats and Endangered Animals (KS1)

In Exploring Habitats and Endangered Animals pupils explore several different habitats from around the world. They will discover, through interactive activities, what these habitats are like and investigate the animals that live in them. In groups, children will discuss the features that make these animals suited to their habitat. Using examples of zoo residents, children will learn what an endangered animal is and consider how they can help protect the wildlife local to them.

Age: KS1 (5-7 years)

Duration: 45 minutes

Capacity: 35 students

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Pupils will be able to:

Gain an understanding that a habitat is a place where an animal lives
Describe different habitats
Understand that different animals are suited to different habitats
Organise different animals into their respective habitats
Understand the terms endangered and extinct
Name actions they can take to protect wildlife around them.

KS1 Science	Working Scientifically	identifying and classifying using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
	Animals, including humans	identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals Use the local environment throughout the year to explore and answer questions about animals in their habitat
	Living things and their habitats	Most living things live in habitats to which they are suited Compare animals in familiar and unfamiliar habitats
Geography	Human and Physical	identify seasonal the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles
English	Spoken Language	listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comment
Citizenship	Non-statutory	what improves and harms their local, natural and built environments and about some of the ways people look after them

Understanding Endangered Animals (KS2)

In Understanding Endangered Animals pupils will be introduced to endangered species. They will investigate a range of objects to find out the threats leading many animals to be endangered today. Pupils will learn about the conservation work that ZSL takes part in to protect different species before suggesting ways in which people can help to protect endangered animals by completing simple actions.

Age: KS2 (age 7-11)

Duration: 1 hour

Capacity: 35 students

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Pupils will be able:

Give a definition of the term “endangered”.
Identify at least one endangered animal.
Describe at least one threat to wild animals.
Suggest an action that they can complete to save an endangered species.

KS2 Science	Working Scientifically	reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions
KS2 Science	Living things and their habitats	Recognise that environments can change and this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.
English	Spoken language	listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments

Investigating Plastic Pollution (KS2)

Join us for this topical session exploring the impact single-use plastic is having on the environment and how students can make a positive change to help. Through the lens of our #OneLess campaign, children will get first-hand experience looking at what happens to plastic when it reaches our waterways and consider how they can combat this issue.

Age: KS2 (7-11 years)

Duration: 1 hour

Capacity: 35 students

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Pupils will be able to:

State at least one reason why the ocean is important.
Describe how litter from land-based sources reaches the ocean.
Describe the impact plastic pollution has on marine species.
Identify ways they can make a positive impact on the environment.

KS2 Science	Working Scientifically	Pupils should draw conclusions based on their data and observations, use evidence to justify their ideas, and use their scientific knowledge and understanding to explain their findings. reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions
KS2 Science	Living things and their habitats	Recognise that environments can change and this can sometimes pose dangers to living things. Pupils should explore examples of human impact (both positive and negative) on environment, for example, the positive effects of nature reserves, ecologically planned parks, or garden parks, and the negative effects of population and development, litter or deforestation. Pupils should be taught to construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.
KS2 English	Spoken Language	listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comment

Exploring Climate Change (KS2)

In Exploring Climate Change (KS2) students will briefly recap the science behind the greenhouse effect. They will discover how our changing climate is impacting animals, including humans, as well as their habitats around the world. Through games and investigations, students will explore the issues facing animals in different habitats and focus on a case study highlighting what ZSL scientists are doing to help. Students will also understand what actions they can take to reduce their carbon footprint.

Age: KS2 (7-11 years)

Duration: 1 hour

Capacity: 35 students

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Pupils will be able to:

Recall the science behind the greenhouse effect and give examples of how humans ‘enhance’ the greenhouse effect.
Discuss a selection of common myths surrounding climate change.
Give examples of the risks of climate change on animals, including humans.
Understand what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint.

KS2 Science	Working Scientifically	using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings. identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
	Living things and their habitats	Recognise that environments can change and this can sometimes pose dangers to living things. Pupils should explore examples of human impact (both positive and negative) on environment, for example, the positive effects of nature reserves, ecologically planned parks, or garden parks, and the negative effects of population and development, litter or deforestation.
	States of Matter	identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of evaporation with temperature.
	Evolution and Inheritance	Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.
KS2 English	Spoken Language	listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comment
KS2 Geography	Human and Physical Geography	describe and understand key aspects of: physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle.

What does a zoo do? (Whole School Assembly)

N.B. available free of charge when multiple sessions are booked on the same day.

In the ‘What do Zoos Do?’ assembly, children will be introduced to the history of zoos and how they have changed from the past to current day. Children will also learn about animal welfare and how zoos meet the needs of the animals they care for. Through interactive activities, children will learn about the role of zoos in conservation of endangered animals before considering how their own actions can help with the welfare of wildlife in their own school grounds, gardens or local area.

Age: Years R to 6 (4-11 years)

Duration: 30 minutes

Capacity: whole school

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Pupils will be able to:

describe how modern zoos have changed from the zoos of the past.
gain an understanding of zoos’ conservation work to help endangered species (through zoos, scientific research and field work).
understand the needs of animals and how zoos meet these needs.