Resource #V119102

Précis

During the visit, students will see animals that live in the tropical rainforest and cooler climates. The worksheets focus their attention on climate zones and continents of origin.

Contextual Summary

This resource is for the on site visit, however, there are suggested concepts and vocabulary to cover beforehand. During the visit, there are some worksheets to complete whilst pupils visit the zoo park focusing on geographical locations. This would be ideal as part of a larger class project.

Curriculum Relevance

Geography → Locational Knowledge → Location of places and environments

Implementation

It is suggested that before the visit students have looked at a world map and can identify the Equator, basic climate zones and the names of the continents (mainly South America, Africa, Asia and Australia). During the visit students will have to complete worksheets asking them to find animals, then, using the information boards, to name them and match them to an area on their world map.

Key Skills Practised

• Observational Skills
• Reading for information
• Classification

Learning Opportunities

Pre-Visit

This trip will most likely be part of a project about rainforests and may occur at any point during the study. However, it would help if certain key vocabulary were covered before the visit. ? Students should be aware that the hottest parts of the world are around the equator and that the temperature gradually gets cooler towards the poles. There are some great maps online to demonstrate this. ? It would also be useful for them to recognise South America, Africa, Asia and Australia on a world map, and to be able to read the names.

On Site

Students will learn how animals live in different habitats and climates that are governed by their geographical location. They will recognise the features of tropical habitats, identifying species that live there, and will also see how some species live in cooler climates.

Post-Visit

A wall display could be created replicating the pictures and world map on the worksheets. Students could choose an animal to draw and attach a string to its country of origin. Venn diagrams can be used to help categorise species according to climatic zone and/or continent of origin. An interesting investigation would be to see which families of animals cross continents and which are much more localised.

Learning Outcomes

Students will have demonstrated various skills and are able to make discoveries mainly through observation and research.