1. KS3/4 EARTHWORKS Chester Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee, Boris
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
KS3 Science 3.4 The Environment, Earth and Universe
c. Human activity and natural processes can lead to changes in the environment
KS4 Science 5 Organisms and Health
a. Organisms are interdependent and adapted to their environment
KS3 Geography 1.6 Environmental Interaction and Sustainable Development
b, Understanding that the physical and human dimensions of the environment are interrelated and together influence environmental change.
Chester Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee, Boris
Updated November 2013

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this session, all pupils will be able to:
Describe how important the sun is for life on Earth, and recognise the diversity of life that exists
Recognise how certain species are suited to particular habitats
Understand the importance of food chains and related terms
Most pupils will be able to:
Understand the important role of vegetation and the carbon cycle
Recognise current human impacts on planet Earth and understand that we all must think and live sustainably
Some pupils will be able to:
Make connections between their everyday human actions and the impacts of these on the natural world.
A Cheetah at Chester Zoo

3. LESSON PLAN
Using a variety of artefacts and interactive activities, we will take a look at a “day in the life of planet Earth”. We begin with our place in the solar system and then zoom in to look at the earth on the level of habitats.
Students will then work in groups, looking at a variety of artefacts (some real) and working out which animals these items have come from, and in which habitat we would find these species. This information is then linked together using a food chain.
The workshop finally focuses on human impacts such as litter. Students are given an item and asked to consider how long this would take to biodegrade in the ocean, organising themselves into a timeline. Along with litter, we also discuss the carbon cycle and the need for us all to act sustainably.
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

4. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES TO LINK WITH YOUR WORKSHOP
BEFORE VISIT (recommended prior learning)
Vocabulary – Habitat, species, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, scavenger, decomposer, adaptation, sustainable.
Concepts – Earth cycles (e.g. water, carbon), food chains/webs, pyramids of numbers.
PLANNING A ROUTE:
The following animals are referred to during the workshop and can be found at Chester Zoo: Painted dogs, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, Scimitar-horned Oryx, camels, owls, lions and the Reticulated Python. Seahorses and coral can be found in the aquarium, while turtles can be observed in the tank in the Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit.
Did you know?
There are a selection of curriculum- linked self-led Explorer trails available to download at which may be suitable for students to follow during their trip.
DURING VISIT:
Food chains/webs: Students collect information about animals in order to develop food chains/webs for different ecosystems upon returning to school (camera phones could be used to obtain photos of animals).
A Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw

5. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES TO LINK WITH YOUR WORKSHOP
DURING VISIT:
Interdependence: Find examples around the Zoo and have a look at the signage in ‘Elephants of the Asian Forest’, Spectacled Bears & ‘Plant Paradise’. How do animals rely on plants? How do plants rely on animals?
Zoo focus: Find ways in which the Zoo is trying to help – can you spot logos (Fair Trade, FSC)? Can you see solar panels? Look at our elephant reed bed. Can you see recycling facilities – what things can you recycle here?
Meet a Presenter. Our Presenters run a series of short talks about our animals and plants throughout the year, many of these include information related to feeding and adaptations. They are also more than happy to answer questions. Please see for times and locations.
AFTER VISIT:
Design food chain/web posters back at school using information and photos collected at the Zoo.
One of Chester Zoo’s ever-popular Meerkats!