1. KS3/4 Evolution Information and guidance for teachers Contents Learning Objectives Lesson plan Curriculum links 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 Maps Tigers face the imminent threat of extinction in the wild

2. Back to top Great Grey Owls are one of the largest owls in the world Lesson Plan This session is based on a PowerPoint presentation.  Introduction Definition of evolution, different types of evidence used in evolution, the difference between facts and a scientific theory, concept of a species. ▪ Main lesson Variation – what it is and how it happens, Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection (using examples of Zoo species where possible), the age of the Earth and why this is important. ▪ Plenary Recap of concepts covered and time for students’ questions. Learning Objectives After attending this session, students will be able to: Define evolution as the study of change over time Explain the concept of a scientific theory Define a species Explain how genetic variation happens Explain simply Darwin’s theory of natural selection Give examples of how natural selection can effect changes in a population Give examples of evidence for the age of the Earth KS3/4 Evolution Curriculum Links KS3/4 Biology - extinction and speciation: what is evolution, how do we know it happens, and how long does it take? Where does variation come from, what is natural selection and what does it do?

3. 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, coral, sea anemone, stick insect, Lake Zacapu Salamander, cheetah, zebra and poison dart frog. Back to top Click here to download a Zoo Map Suggested activities to link with session 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. 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 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. 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? A visitor favourite: ‘Boris’ the chimpanzee

4. Back to top After visit 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 of habitat destruction – how might the species change, what kind of adaptations would allow it to survive? 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. 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? Lake Malawi Cichlids in our Aquarium

5. Back to top 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 One of our Humbolt’s Penguins taking a swim 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 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 plan (please see map) The Aquarium, Tropical Realm, Fruit Bat Forest, Spirit of the Jaguar, Islands in Danger, Butterfly Journey and Realm of the Red Ape are all undercover, indoor exhibits. Additionally, macaws, Chimps, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, Monkeys, Miniature Monkeys and Tsavo Bird Safari all have undercover viewing.

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. Back to top Meeting ‘Beaky’ the quail during a Discovery session 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 Meeting one of our stick insects 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. 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.

8. Evolution: some key species locations Cheetah Giraffe Frogs Aquarium: Coral & Salamanders Monkey puzzle tree Tuatara Grevy’s zebra Tsavo bird 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