KS3/4 EVOLUTION CURRICULUM LINKS KS3 Science 3.3 Organisms, Behaviour and Health d. All living things show variation, can be classified and are interdependent, interacting with each other and their environment KS4 Science 5 Organisms and Health b. Variation between species can lead to evolutionary changes and similarities and differences between species can be measured and classified. Chester Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee, Boris

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After attending this session, all students will be able to: Define evolution as the study of change over time Explain how genetic variation happens Explain simply Darwin’s theory of natural selection Most students will be able to: Give examples of how natural selection can effect changes in a population Some Students will be able to: Make connections between the evolution of animals covered in the session and other similar animals that they may be familiar with Cheetahs are well known for their burst of speed, gained through natural selection!

LESSON PLAN Using a variety of artefacts (some real) we will discuss how and why evolution occurs using three key ingredients: variation, natural selection and time. Variation – What is it, and how does it happen? Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection – This will be explained using artefacts and examples of Zoo species where possible. Time – How old is the Earth? Why is this important to know? Students will be introduced to the idea that recorded human history is only a tiny part of the history of the Earth through an interactive activity. IMPORTANT NOTE – ANIMAL CONTACT Some Discovery Workshops 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 handwash will be offered to all students at the end of the workshop. In order for this to be effective, teachers are asked to ensure that all students have clean hands on arrival at the Education Centre. Critically Endangered Sumatran Tigers at Chester Zoo

PLANNING A ROUTE – ANIMALS COVERED DURING THE SESSION A huge variety of animals and plants are discussed during this session. Of these the species that can be seen at the Zoo include giraffe, cheetah, zebra, tiger, macaw, python and tapir. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES TO LINK WITH YOUR WORKSHOP BEFORE VISIT Some background knowledge of the above concepts would be useful but not essential. Pre-visit knowledge of some of the animals would also be desirable to maximise students’ learning opportunities on the day. Living fossils – We have a number of species that are considered living fossils including Tuatara (in the Tropical Realm), Monkey Puzzle tree (Andean Garden – by the condors and coatis) and Ginko (at the back of the Tropical Realm, near to the Hyacinth Macaws). Why have these species remained unchanged? A Critically Endangered Blue- throated Macaw

DURING VISIT Beak and feet - Visit Europe on the Edge (between penguins and tigers), Tropical Realm and Tsavo Bird Safari (near Black Rhinos). The birds in these enclosures show a variety of beak types and feet. Think about how these might have evolved. Crazy camouflage - While visiting species around the Zoo look for examples of camouflage. In what ways does camouflage help the animals you’ve seen. In what other ways do animals use colour – how might these evolve? Visit the giraffe house – here you will be able to see both the giraffes, and the Okapi. Okapi are relatives of the giraffe, found in the rainforests of the Congo Basin. How have they adapted to life in the rainforest compared to the giraffe who live on the savannah? SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES TO LINK WITH YOUR WORKSHOP One of Chester Zoo’s ever-popular Meerkats!

AFTER VISIT Adaptation to habitat - Choose a species that the pupils have seen in the Zoo. Discuss how its habitat may have affected adaptations. Then discuss what might happen if the habitat changes due to climate change or habitat destruction – how might the species change, what kind of adaptations would allow it to survive? Evolutionary tree - Choose an animal that your pupils have seen in the Zoo. Find some images of animals that are similar, or closely related. Do the same for some closely related fossils. Try and construct a simple evolutionary tree for that species. ‘Super beast’ - Get your pupils to design their own ‘super beast’- something adapted to an extreme environment of their choosing. Discuss the adaptations and how they would help that animal survive. Pit the creatures against each other in different environments to see which will be able to out-compete the competition. How is this similar to the ‘survival of the fittest’ struggle that living things undergo every day? One of Chester Zoo’s Rothschild’s Giraffes.