Book a FREE* activity for your pupils
All sessions are 45 minutes.
All sessions have a maximum of 30 pupils.
Due to the size of the zoo and all the other things to see and do, we recommend primary pupils only attend one session during their visit.
Our sessions are limited in availability and very popular.
Please book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you have any questions about these sessions or wish to check availability on a specific date, please contact our education department directly at 01206 332511 or 01206 332512 or email education@colchesterzoo.org
*Colchester Zoo reserves the right to charge a £20 fee educational sessions which are booked but not attended.
Available R and KS1 Sessions:
Click on an education session for more details including curriculum links
An educational visit to the zoo will assist you in the teaching of ‘British Values’ and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. (SMSC)
Please note that unless otherwise stated live animals are not used in any session. Many sessions use real bones, furs, feathers, and skins which are customs seizures from animals hunted in the wild.
Detailed Session Descriptions:
Art – R or KS1
Pupils will learn about great British wildlife and animal artists and how they study nature closely to create their art. We’ll discuss colour and why birds might be different colour before looking at spots and other patterns on fur. We’ll then look at other patterns and shapes found throughout nature. Pupils will then each be given their very own wildlife sketchbook before rotating around a circus of activities and having a go at making their own wildlife art based on observations of real nature artefacts (fur, feathers, etc.).
Click for National Curriculum links-
EYFS – Statutory Framework
Expressive Arts and Design: creating with materials (including exploring a variety of materials, colours, and patterns).
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Art and Design: use a range of materials creatively; develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, and shape; learn about the work of a range of artists.
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
Year 2
Art and Design: use a range of materials creatively; develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, and shape; learn about the work of a range of artists.
Science – Living things and their habitats: identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited; identify and name a variety of living things.
Colchester Zoo – Educational Session PLOs – Art KS1
Planning a trip to the zoo with a focus on Art? Why not download our Colchester Zoo Art Trail!
African Safari – R or KS1
“We’re going on safari, on the African savannah. We’re going to see the big five. What a beautiful day. We’re not scared!”
Using a familiar song and rhyme children will explore the savannah habitat and learn some key characteristics of it and about the ‘big five’ animals that live there.
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EYFS – Statutory Framework
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals.
Geography – Place knowledge: understand geographical similarities and differences.
Geography – Human and physical geography: use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features.
Year 2
Science – Living things and their habitats: identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited; identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats.
Geography – Place knowledge:understand geographical similarities and differences.
Geography – Human and physical geography: use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features.
Colour and Camouflage – R or KS1
Why are animals bright colours? Why do animals blend in? Pupils will try to spot all the camouflaged animals while learning about the benefits of spots, stripes, and changing colours. Pupils will also get the chance to see real animal fur up close and examine its patterns.
Click for National Curriculum links-
EYFS – Statutory Framework
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
Year 2
Science – Living things and their habitats: identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited; identify and name a variety of living things.
Dear Zoo – R or KS1
Expanding on the ideas from the book ‘Dear Zoo’, pupils will find out about other animals which live at the zoo. Based on what we learn about these animals, the group will decided why they would, or would not, make good pets!
After the session, back at school, pupils can complete worksheet letters to post to the zoo, and your class will be sent a response.
Explore! Session – R or KS1
Pupils will explore different animal artefacts. A wide selection of real animal artefacts, (including furs, feathers, and reptile scales) will allow pupils to compare and contrast different objects and different types of animals. Using descriptive words, pupils will work together to describe artefacts and identify the animals into groups.
If you’re studying Classification (birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish), this session is a great introduction or a way to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom!
Click for National Curriculum links-
EYFS – Statutory Framework
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Science – Working scientifically: identify and classify.
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
English – Reading: word reading; comprehension; vocabulary.
Year 2
Science – Working scientifically: identify and classify.
Science – Living things and their habitats: explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive.
English – Reading: word reading; comprehension; vocabulary.
Fastest, Biggest, Strongest – R or KS1
Pupils will be amazed as we discover more about the weirdest and most wonderful animals! This session features some hands-on animal artifacts (skulls, etc.), a chance to have-a-go themselves, and loads of incredible, outrages, or even seemingly-unbelievable facts about some of the amazing animals we share our planet with.
Click for National Curriculum links
Colchester Zoo – Educational Session PLOs – Fastest, Biggest, Strongest R&KS1
Farms Around The World – R or KS1
New for spring 2023!
Join in on a baking roleplay as we discover where ingredients come from. During our pretend baking, we’ll learn how many foods we eat have something to do with animals, including wild animals that live on farms. We’ll also discover what to look for on labels to find out more about food – including the Union Jack flag, country names, and even the secret code on eggs! We’ll also learn how farmer all around the world are working to help wild animals on their farms and how labels can tell us if food is from these wildlife-friendly farms.
Click for National Curriculum linksHabitats – Is This My Home? R and Year 1
Join in an interactive story about a fennec fox who has lost his home. During the story, we’ll travel around the world visiting the woodland forest, taiga forest, rainforest, lakes & rivers, and the desert. In each place we’ll learn about animals that live there and some of their characteristics. After finding out about each animal home, we’ll figure out where the fennec fox should live.
Click for National Curriculum links-
EYFS – Statutory Framework
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Science – Plants: identify and recognise deciduous and evergreen trees.
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
Science – Seasonal Changes: observe changes across the four seasons.
Geography – Place knowledge: understand geographical similarities and differences.
Geography – Human and physical geography: use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features.
Habitats – Year 2
Revised for 2023!
Animals live everywhere in the world, how do they live in such diverse habitats? Students will learn habitat characteristics, and discover some of the cool adaptions that let animals live there. Habitats covered generally include: woodland forest, taiga forest, rainforest, savannah, and desert.
If you have R or year 1, the ‘Is This My Home Session’ provides and introduction to the concept of animal homes through an age appropriate interactive story.
Click for National Curriculum links-
Year 2
Science – Living things and their habitats: identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited; identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats.
Science – Animals, including humans: find out about and describe the basic needs of animals for survival.
Geography – Place knowledge: understand geographical similarities and differences.
Geography – Human and physical geography: use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features.
Jungle Storytime – R and Year 1
Join us in this interactive storytime while we discover what made a mysterious noise as we explore the rainforests of the world. Pupils will learn what makes a jungle a jungle and about some of the unique and amazing animals that live in them.
Click for National Curriculum links-
EYFS – Statutory Framework
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
Geography – Location knowledge: name and locate the world’s continents.
Geography – Human and physical geography: identify the location of hot and cold areas of the world.
Lifecycles – KS1
Pupils investigate how different animals grow and develop. A variety of hands-on activities bring this topic to life as pupils examine eggs, and play games about minibeast life stages.
Click for National Curriculum links-
Year 1
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
Year 2
Science – Living things and their habitats: explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive.
Science – Animals, including humans: notice that animals have offspring which grow into adults.
Maths: Measure, Means, & More! – KS1
Pupils will get hands-on working in small groups to practice maths skills in a fun, interactive way. Groups rotate around different activities that involve real animal artefacts and hands-on maths. Activities are tailored depending on age and may include: comparing patterns on tortoise shells, measuring snake skins, counting minibeast legs, and more!
Click for National Curriculum links-
Year 1 Maths
Number: identify and represent numbers using objects and pictorial representations including the number line, and use the language of: equal to, more than, less than, most and least; read, write and interpret mathematical statements involving addition, subtraction, and equals signs.
Measurement: compare, describe and solve practical problems involving lengths, heights, and time; measure and begin to record lengths and heights, and time.
Geometry: recognise and name common 2-D and 3-D shapes.
Year 2 Maths
Number: identify, represent and estimate numbers using different representations; solve problems using concrete objects and pictorial representations.
Measurement: choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure length/height, mass, temperature, to the nearest appropriate unit; compare and order lengths, mass, volume/capacity; compare and sequence intervals of time.
Geometry: identify and describe the property of 2-D shapes; compare and sort common 2-D and 3-D shapes and everyday objects.
Statistics: interpret and construct simple pictograms, tally charts, block diagrams, and simple tables; ask and answer simple questions by counting the number of objects in each category and sorting the categories by quantity; ask and answer questions about totalling and comparing categorical data.
Colchester Zoo – Educational Session PLOs – Maths KS1
Penguins – R or KS1
Get the chance to learn more about these charismatic birds. Using penguin role-play, bio-facts and games, the pupils will discover what key adaptions penguins have, as well as how these unique birds live.
Click for National Curriculum links-
EYFS – Statutory Framework
Communication and Language: maintains attention and concentrates during appropriate activities; listens and responds to ideas expressed by others.
Understanding the World – the world: Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change; make observations of animals.
Year 1
Science – Animals, including humans: identify and name a variety of common animals; identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores; describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals.
Geography – Location knowledge: name and locate the world’s continents.
Geography – Human and physical geography: identify the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
Year 2
Science – Living things and their habitats: identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited; identify and name a variety of animals in their habitats.
Science – Animals, including humans: notice that animals have offspring which grow into adults.
Geography – Location knowledge: name and locate the world’s continents.
Geography – Human and physical geography: identify the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.
Rainforest Animals – Year 2
Rainforests are a unique habitat because they are divided into layers. Students will learn about the emergent, canopy, understory and forest floor layers of the rainforest and about the animals that live at each level.
If you’re studying habitats, with rainforests as an example, the Habitat Session provides a more general overview of the rainforest habitat, without the focus on specific layers. If you have R or year 1, the Jungle Storytime Session provides an introduction to rainforests with an interactive story.
Click for National Curriculum links-
Year 2
Science – Living things and their habitats: explore and compare the difference between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive; identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited; identify and name a variety of animals in their habitats; describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals.
Geography – Location knowledge: name and locate the world’s continents.
Geography – Human and physical geography: identify the location of hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the Equator and the North and South Poles.