A-level and Post-16 sessions

Pick a selection from the list below to build a day tailored to your group.
All sessions are 1 hour minimum.

All of these sessions involve a selection of the following activities:
-sorting and/or investigating biofacts
-short film and audio clips
-group discussion
-live animals
-student-centred games.

List of sessions

Classification 1 1/4 hours

• Concept of species and the binomial system
• Taxonomic and phylogenetic groupings
• Classification of a named species

Wildlife Conservation

• Rationale for conservation and threats to species
• The involvement of zoos in captive and field conservation
• Sustainable development and consumerism

Animal welfare

• Animal welfare legislation and guidelines
• Reasons for zoos
• Understanding behaviours and environmental enrichment

Enclosure design

• How zoo enclosure design has developed
• Considerations when designing new enclosures
• Design examples from Bristol Zoo

Primate communication

• How primates communicate
• Reasons for communication
• Case studies on different primates and their communication techniques

Adaptation

• Evolutionary importance of adaptations
• Anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations
• Comparison of adaptations between related taxa

Animal learning 1 1/4 hours

• Innate vs learned behaviour
• Types of learned behaviour – including classical and operant conditioning
• Animal learning in zoos and for conservation

Evolution of behaviour

• How behaviour evolves, adaptation and co-adaptation
• Evidence that behaviour is evolving
• Gene transmission, kin selection and apparent altruism

Studying behaviour and enrichment (in two parts) Allow 2 hours

• What behaviour is and reasons to study it
• How to study behaviour - tips and short guided practical taster
• Student-led behaviour study, analysis, evaluation and presentation of study
• Environmental enrichment in the Zoo

If you would like to discuss how these sessions relate to the syllabus you are following please contact us on 0117 974 7369. You can send the relevant parts of the specifications (as an attachment) to: education [at] bristolzoo [dot] org [dot] uk and we can advise on the most suitable choice of sessions.

Science in the Workplace

• Features of the Zoo workplace
• The use of science in the Zoo
• Environmental awareness and policy
• Use of ICT
• Legislation
• Health and Safety
• Socio-economic impacts on local community

Conservation Biology and the Zoo

• Role of a modern zoo
• Importance of conservation and the underpinning biology
• Which departments in the Zoo are involved in science and how (examples of research projects, vet work, education, etc)
• Zoo population management, including breeding programmes

‘Teaching Outside the Classroom'

Suitable for PGCE and BEd students this session allows the students to take part in a zoo education session and covers:

• What we do
• The opportunities for learning at the zoo
• Planning a trip to the zoo