Evolution and Adaptations is designed to support classroom learning on inheritance, and how that leads to the evolution of adaptations (through natural selection). It directly links to the Working Scientifically part of the Upper KS2 Programme of Study, but the emphasis is on Evolution and Inheritance (Year 6).
This session involves interactive challenges and lots of open-ended questions to help your students develop and demonstrate their understanding of these topics. Pupils are encouraged to work scientifically throughout by using their observations to answer questions. It ends with a Q&A where your students can pose their questions to us! By using the species we care for at the Zoo, and our conservation work out in the field, we can provide context to your classroom teaching – without your students having to leave the classroom.
Age Group: KS2 (7-11 years old)
Duration: 45 minutes
Capacity: 35 students
Cost of session: £45 per class
This session is delivered outdoors with one of our flagship species in the background, but this is not guaranteed and is weather dependent.
We recommend Microsoft Teams as the platform for delivering the Digital Outreach sessions. If you do not use this in your classroom already, other platforms are available to use upon request.
BOOK NOW BY emailing [email protected]
Upon booking you will be sent a set up guide including support for setting up the session, a full session outline, keywords glossary and pre- & post-session activity suggestions.
Visiting the Zoo too?
This session can be offered as a standalone session, or can be delivered as a follow up after a Zoo visit. If you book your Zoo visit and digital outreach session at the same time we will provide additional student worksheets for use around the Zoo.
An Evolution & Adaptations digital outreach session after your Zoo visit is a great opportunity to review what the students learnt at the Zoo and use their new scientific vocabulary in context by discussing evolution and adaptations.
National Curriculum links:
KS2 Science
| Year 6 Programme of Study Evolution and inheritance |
Upper KS2 Programme of Study Working Scientifically |
|
Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment and that adaptation may lead to evolution |
Reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations Identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments. |
Intended learning outcomes:
Pupils will:
- Gain an understanding of the difference between “adaptations” (features of an animal to help it survive in its habitat) and “evolution” (the process by which these features come about)
- Be able to give examples of adaptations in species and explain how they help that species to survive within its habitat.
- Gain an understanding that variation within a species and inheritance of beneficial traits is how species can evolve to become adapted to suit their environment (the process of natural selection).