1. KS3/4 Classification Information and guidance for teachers Contents Learning Objectives Lesson plan Curriculum links Plan a route Suggested activities Things to arrange prior to visit The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Your teaching session Maps Sheba is our oldest Asian Elephant at over 50 years of age! Great Grey Owls are one of the largest owls in the world

2. Back to top One of our Discovery Sessions in action! Lesson Plan This session uses PowerPoint presentation, bio-artefacts and group work to demonstrate the characteristics of the five vertebrate groups. This session is ideal as an introduction or a recap of classification. ▪ Introduction: Through questioning we will establish a definition of classification (putting animals into groups), and establish how animals can be classified. The value of a classification system will be discussed. ▪ Main lesson: With the aid of pictures and skeletons the characteristics of the five vertebrate groups will be discussed. Then, in small groups, pupils will be asked to consider the similarities and differences between two vertebrates. Groups will report back their findings. ▪ Plenary: A recap of vertebrate group characteristics and if there is time a live animal will be classified. Learning objectives After attending this session, pupils will be able to: ▪ Discuss similarities and differences between animals ▪ Describe differences between the five vertebrate groups ▪ Identify animals from the five vertebrate groups KS3/4 Classification Curriculum links QCA Science: Organisms and Health: Similarities and differences between species can be measured and classified.

3. Grevy’s Zebra can be seen at Chester Zoo Plan a route Animals discussed during session Animals discussed during the session will be largely lead by pupils. Images and artefacts used during the session include, fish, frogs, Komodo Dragons, macaws, Spectacled Bears, bats, penguins, seahorses, turtles. Animals to visit before or after session Ideally visit animals that will be discussed during the session. A variety of fish can be found in the Aquarium (behind Realm of the Red Ape). We have a number of reptiles that can be seen in the Tropical Realm (opposite giraffes), and Realm of the Red Ape (next to the Education Centre), and frogs in the Spirit of the Jaguar (at the back of the Tropical Realm). Komodo Dragons can be found in Islands in Danger (just over the second (canal) bridge from the Main Entrance). Macaws can be seen behind the Tropical Realm. Spectacled Bears can be seen just past the Fruit Bat Forest. Bats can be found in the Fruit Bat Forest (all pupils must be accompanied in the Fruit Bat Forest). Penguins can be found next to the Giant Otters. Tortoises can be found in the Tropical Realm. Unfortunately we don’t have caiman in the Zoo, but Philippine Crocodiles can also be found here. Continued on next page…

4. One of our young Sumatran Orangutans born in 2004 Suggested activities to link with session Before visit (recommended prior learning) Vocabulary – classification, vertebrate, invertebrate, reptile, fish, mammal, bird, amphibian. During visit Visit the Tropical Realm, how many examples of each of the five vertebrate groups can you spot/identify? Classification treasure quiz e.g. name a mammal that can fly, a bird that cannot fly, a fish that does not always need water, a reptile with a shell, 3 types of amphibians found at Chester Zoo, a mammal beginning with each letter of the alphabet, an organism from any kingdom other than the animal kingdom. Coatis are mammals what does this tell you about them? Focus on a habitat e.g. South American rainforest. While in the Zoo you can visit many species including: poison frogs, leaf cutter ants and Jaguars in Spirit of the Jaguar, macaws behind the Tropical Realm and tapir and capybara in between Fruit Bat Forest and the Spectacled Bears. Investigate plant classification in the Grow Zone or Wildlife Garden. Investigate invertebrate classification in the Aquarium (e.g. coral, brittle star) Tropical Realm (insects, spiders) Fruit Bat Forest (cockroaches). Think about species variation within each of the vertebrate groups e.g. visit Europe on the Edge (by penguins and Giant Otters) how many different birds are there? Or the variation within a species e.g. visit the Chimpanzees, how many individuals can you identify? Look at amount of hair, colour of hair, face colour or markings, size etc. After visit Design imaginary creatures to fit into specific vertebrate groups. Back to top

5. Running plan for the day Time and location of teaching session Time and location to meet for teaching session Time and location to meet for lunch Time to visit Fruit Bat Forest (all students under 16 must be accompanied through this exhibit) Time for students to visit the gift shop (the shop at the entrance is open all year round, opening times of the other 2 shops vary throughout the year) All students under 16 should be accompanied in the gift shops Time and location to meet when leaving the Zoo Back to top Visit our beautiful seahorses in the Aquarium Things to arrange prior to visit Please check details on confirmation letter, any queries please call 01244 650205 / 389444. Arrange a pre-visit to the Zoo, contact us 01244 650205 / 389444 for details. Arrange appropriate number of group leaders (please click here for guidance) and collate contact details. Please inform us of any special needs so we are aware and can be of assistance if required, for example if you have wheelchair users or there are specific allergies. Assign students to a group leader, ensure students and leaders know the running plan for the day, have staff contact details and map of the Zoo (click here).click here Ensure group leaders have a plan for the day including; student names, time and location of teaching session (e.g. a copy of the confirmation letter) and where to meet, if necessary, after the session as well as a map of the Zoo.

6. Back to top We have a group of over 30 chimpanzees here at Chester Zoo Tree frogs are excellent at climbing. Just look at their feet! The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Please help us to make your entrance to the Zoo as smooth as possible. Allow plenty of time to get to and into the Zoo, it can take over 30 minutes to enter the Zoo and reach the Education Centre, particularly at busy times of year. On arrival the group leader only should approach the main gate with the confirmation letter. Pupils and other staff should remain on the coach. This provides an ideal opportunity for another member of staff to run through itinerary for the day with pupils and helpers, to hand out work sheets, information, maps, talk times etc. Once the paperwork has been completed the group leader can collect the group from the coach to be counted into the Zoo by Gate Staff. There are toilets at the main entrance both inside and outside the Zoo. Rainy day plan: There are many indoor enclosures: (please see map) Tropical Realm: Reptiles, insects, birds Location: near the Education Centre, East Zoo Fruit Bat Forest: Free-flying bats, insects and mammals Location: Just past Monkeys in the West Zoo. Other enclosures with indoor viewing include: Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Spirit of the Jaguar, Tsavo Black Rhino experience, Elephants of the Asian Forest, Realm of the Red Apee, Butterfly Journey, Islands in Danger and the Aquarium.

7. Your teaching session Sessions are run in 3 classrooms all located in the Education Centre next to the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit, and last around 50 minutes. On arrival at the Education Centre please wait outside the appropriate room (Cook, Columbus or Cousteau as stated on your booking confirmation) for an Education Officer to greet you. Please don’t block doorways to education classrooms as there may be classes about to leave. If you are delayed for any reason and may be late for your teaching session please contact 01244 650205 / 389444, we may be able to help! If you have found this information useful or think there is something that we could add to help your day run smoothly please let us know at learning@chesterzoo.org learning@chesterzoo.org Meeting one of our Stick Insects Back to top Some discovery Sessions may include a live animal and/or a selection of bio- artefacts. Please inform us in advance of any allergies or phobias that may be affected by this. An antibacterial foam hand-wash will be offered to students at the end of the session. In order for this to be effective, teachers are asked to ensure that all students have clean hands on arrival at the Education Centre. There are plenty of picnic tables around the Zoo to use for your lunch. On rainy days there is a small indoor picnic area next to the Education Centre. You can even pre-book school lunches from Chester Zoo when you book your teaching session! These healthy and palm oil free lunch boxes will be prepared for your visit. You can either collect them from the Ark Restaurant or eat them in there (tables cannot be pre-booked). Please click here for more information. There are toilets opposite the Spirit of the Jaguar house just past the Education Centre.

8. Fish Classification: some key species locations Komodo Dragons Bats Penguins ReptilesFrogs Birds: Tsavo safari Education Centre

9. Rainy Day Visits Cheetah Butterfly Journey Islands in Danger Fruit Bat Forest Monkeys Elephants of the Asian Forest Chimpanzees Spirit of the Jaguar Realm of the Red Ape Tsavo Black Rhino Experience Secret World of the Okapi Tropical Realm Aquarium