AS/A2 Evolution Information and guidance for teachers Contents Learning Objectives Lesson plan Plan a route Suggested activities to link with session Things to arrange prior to visit The day of your trip: arriving at the Zoo Your teaching session Tigers face the imminent threat of extinction in the wild

Back to top Great Grey Owls are one of the largest owls in the world AS/A2 Evolution Learning Objectives After attending this session, students will be able to: ▪ Define a species ▪ Give 2 prominent names related to evolution ▪ Give an example of allopatric speciation ▪ Give an example of sympatric speciation ▪ Give examples of how natural selection can effect changes in a population ▪ Explain the relevance of evolution or genetics to a modern zoo Lesson Plan This session is based on a PowerPoint presentation. ▪ Introduction Definition of evolution. Concept of a species. A Brief history of evolution (Lamarck and Darwin). ▪ Main lesson Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection. The importance of variation. Speciation (allopatric and sympatric using examples of Zoo species where possible). Selection (directional, disruptive and stabilising again using examples of Zoo species where possible. ▪ Plenary Recap of concepts covered. The relevance of the concept of species, selection and evolution to work at Chester Zoo.

Plan a route Species discussed during 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, orang-utan, elephants, cichlids, Ring-tailed Lemur, Okapi, zebra, rhino and orchids. Species to visit before session (or after session if at 10.30) Ideally visit species that will be discussed during the session Elephants – To the left of the Main Entrance Zebra – past Monkeys Rhino – To the right of the Main Entrance Ring-tailed Lemur – On Lemur Island opposite the chimps. (these can be hard to spot, other lemurs, Gentle Grey, Black and White Ruffed and Red Ruffed can be seen opposite the camels, Onagers and lechwe) Giraffe – Opposite the Tropical Realm Okapi – Past the giraffe, over the bridge and on the right Orang-utans – Opposite the Chimps Cichlids – In the Aquarium opposite the orang-utans Orchids – In the Grow Zone next to the Ark Restaurant A visitor favourite: ‘Boris’ the chimpanzee Back to top Click here to download a Zoo Map

One of our young Sumatran Orang-utans born in 2004 Suggested activities to link with session Before visit Some background knowledge of the above concepts would be useful. Pre-visit knowledge of some of the animals would also be desirable (but by no means essential) to maximise students learning opportunities on the day. During visit 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? Visit primates (Monkeys, Miniature Monkeys, lemurs, capuchins (back of the Tropical Realm)) and apes (Chimps and orang-utans) and consider the evolution of humans. Visit Europe on the Edge – Between penguins and tigers. The birds in this enclosure show a variety of beak types think about how these might have evolved. Visit the ruffed lemurs opposite camels and Onager. The Black and White and Red Ruffed Lemurs are sufficiently different from each other to be classified as subspecies. They may become new species in time. Look at the ID signs and suggest how speciation may be occurring in these Lemurs. Think about how it could be established if they were different species. Continued on next page…

Back to top During visit continued… While visiting species around the Zoo look for conservation signs and the threats to these species. Could the threats have consequences on evolution? E.g. habitat destruction isolation populations, hunting reducing numbers and variation. After visit Plan a breeding programme for a species, consider variation, sub- species etc. Lake Malawi Cichlids in Chester Zoo’s Aquarium

Asoka – Chester Zoo’s male Asiatic Lion Things to arrange prior to visit Please check details on confirmation letter, any queries please call Arrange a pre-visit to the Zoo, contact us for details. Arrange appropriate number of group leaders and collate contact details. 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. 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 Twilight Zone (all students under 16 must be accompanied through the Twilight Zone) 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

Sheba is our oldest Asian Elephant at over 50 years of age! 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. Students 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 students 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 – indoor enclosures The Aquarium, Tropical Realm, Twilight Zone, Spirit of the Jaguar, Islands in Danger are all undercover, indoor exhibits. Additionally, macaws, Chimps, orang-utans, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, Monkeys, Miniature Monkeys all have undercover viewing.

Your teaching session Sessions are run in 3 classrooms all located in the Education Centre next to the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit. Please be aware that it can take 30+ minutes to cross the zoo particularly at busy times of year. 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. Each teaching session will last approximately 50 minutes. There is plenty of open space for lunches outside the Education Centre. On rainy days there is an indoor picnic area (Arara Picnic Lodge) past the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit. There are toilets opposite the Spirit of the Jaguar house just past the Education Centre. If you are delayed for any reason and may be late for your teaching session please contact , 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 Back to top Meeting ‘Beaky’ the quail during a Discovery session