Workshop topics

Unit 1A: Ourselves

I am able to demonstrate a number of parent animals and their babies as well as differing insect life cycles, including incomplete and complete metamorphosis, using animals at various life stages.  I can also demonstrate how different types of animals grow by demonstrating the shed skins and moulted exoskeletons of reptiles and invertebrates respectively!

Within this unit of work the animals can also be used as a basis to discuss animal senses and how they can be very different from our own, and to discuss and demonstrate how different animals move and get around.

Unit 2C: Variation

Using a wide range of different animals children will be introduced to the concept of grouping animals based on their shared characteristics, and also given the opportunity to see how much animals differ from one another both between different groups and even between individuals of the same species, just like us!

Unit 3A: Teeth and eating

A range of animals with very different feeding habits and food preferences will be used to demonstrate the diversity of animal eating habits (disgusting and otherwise) in the natural world!

Unit 4A: Moving and Growing

Animals with diverse methods of movement are used to introduce children to the huge range of ways in which animals get around their environments.  A range of shed reptile skins and moulted invertebrate exoskeletons are used to give a visual demonstration of how these animals grow and change their appearance.  This is fascinating to experience and children (and adults!) are always particularly amazed by the appearance of the invertebrate exoskeletons left behind when these animals moult.....

Unit 4B: Habitats

My animals come from a huge range of habitats and from all over the world, so are perfect for demonstrating the adaptations and features which different animals possess in order to live and thrive in their own environment.  Animals from deserts, rainforests and temperate forests can all be shown, as well as from all levels of the rainforest from the jungle floor right up to the canopy!

Within this unit of work I can also expand on the variation theme as discussed in Unit 2C above, and introduce Year 4 children at an appropriate level to the concepts of the classification of living things and how to use simple keys to identify animals and plants.

This unit also provides the opportunity to discuss wildlife conservation issues, which is a subject close to my heart and is one which will be considered to some extent in many other topic areas also.

Unit 5B: Life Cycles

I am able to demonstrate to children examples of both incomplete and complete metamorphosis, with an emphasis on reproduction and the production of eggs or the bearing of live young to start these life cycles, using animals at many life stages for both types of metamorphosis.  Beetles and their grubs are used to demonstrate a complete metamorphosis (like that of a butterfly), and a number of animals including giant stick insects and praying mantids can be used to demonstrate incomplete metamorphosis, where the animal goes through a series of gradual changes on its life cycle from baby to adult...

Unit 6A: Interdependence and Interaction

A selection of animals of different sizes and with varying feeding habits can be used as the basis to discuss the concept of food chains and food webs in a given habitat, and the importance of one species to support the existence of another. 

A focus on one or two animals from very different habitats can be useful to enable children to understand why and how animals are adapted to their environment and also the problems they would face if placed in an alien environment to which they are not suited...