School trip to Animal Education Centre, East Park
This small city zoo offers a glimpse into the amazing diversity of our world’s wildlife. Tucked away within the grounds one of the largest Victorian parks in Hull, the Animal Education Centre in East Park offers an intimate view into both exotic and native animals, reconnecting its visitors to the natural world around them.
See an array of animals from all corners of the globe, including; lemurs, parrots, wallabies, insects, frogs and alpaca. Don’t forget to take a stroll through the stunning walkthrough aviary, complete with scenic waterfall. You will be transported to a world of colour and sound as the birds fly effortlessly around you.
The Animal Education Centre is free to enter and welcomes over 400,000 visitors to the park each year and hosts a number of annual events and activities. All the money raised at the Animal Centre goes directly back into increasing the education and conservation output and the development of new and exciting exhibits.
Your students will enjoy a unique and memorable visit, finding themselves immersed in hands on explorative learning that will ignite and inspire a curiosity for the natural world. With access to high quality collections and resources, they can help bring your curriculum to life.
Workshops, presentations and hands on activities are designed and delivered to groups from EYFS all the way through to Key Stage 4 by a dedicated Education Officer. Covering a wide variety of topics such as Art, Science, Geography, Maths, English and Design Technology, you are sure to find something that compliments your topic. With dedicated SEN/SEND workshops they are able to deliver sessions that really engage the senses, ensuring all ages and abilities are able to benefit from their time at the centre.
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
Pupils between 3-5 years will be engaged and inspired by story led learning, introducing them to the basic fundamentals of the natural world.
- Science: The Curious Caterpillar
In this story and play session children will be introduced to the very basic life cycles of animals. You will explore how a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly and using models, discover how other creatures grow. - Maths: Mini-beast Mayhem
In this story and play session we will take a closer look at creepy crawlies. Supporting early maths concepts of matching, sorting, order and number, children will use models of mini-beasts and explore ways of grouping them.
KEY STAGE 1
Pupils between 5-7 years will delve deeper into the complexities of nature with activities that will spark curiosity and encourage enquiry.
- Art and Design: Cryptic Colour and Camouflage
Meet Reggie the Red-Eyed tree frog, learn about life in the rainforest and discover why some frogs prefer to stand out from the crowd and others like to blend in. Children will then have the opportunity to make their own frog puppet. - Science and Maths: What’s for Dinner?
This multi-activity workshop explores the puzzling world of animal food chains. They will explore what animals need to survive and how all lives (plant and animal) are linked. Children will then take on the task to unravel their own puzzling food chain, creating a paper (food) chain to take away with them.
KEY STAGE 2
Pupils between 7-11 years will have the opportunity to view the lives of animals from a new angle. Activities will encourage enquiry and discussion as well as provide an opportunity for scientific reasoning and an understanding of biodiversity, animal groups and citizen science.
- Science and Maths: Beneath the Surface
See animals like never before – with X-ray vision! Children will be able to take a closer look at animal anatomy and explore the differences and similarities between bone structures. Does anything look familiar? In this session they will take an introductory look at evolution and animal groups. - Science and Design: Happy in my Habitat
This multi-activity workshop allows the children to discover what different animals need to survive and thrive. They will also investigate ways in which they can help attract wildlife to green spaces and actions needed to help protect them. Together they will build either a bug hotel OR a bird box to be used in their school. Small hammers and nails will be used.
A bespoke classroom within the Animal Education Centre offers a secure and engaging learning environment which can be adapted to suit the needs of both the group and selected educational workshop.
The entire site is fully accessible throughout.
Entry into the Animal Education Centre is free of charge. Education sessions and workshops are priced separately.