Adapt to survive!

Students will discover how adaptations enable animals to survive and thrive in their habitat by observing habitats of the Africa Safari Track.

How do animals find or catch food, attract mates, look after young and protect themselves from both predators and the elements?

We will observe some animals at the Zoo to see how parts of their bodies help them move, find food and stay safe in their habitats.

Younger students will explore with animal artefacts to identify how animals’ bodies are different and suited to the place where they live.

Older students will investigate the ways in which animals protect themselves from the weather and from predators, find or catch their food and attract a mate.

We will also explore how changes in habitats due to human activities may drastically affect the survival of wildlife. Examples of conservation projects may be used to illustrate how the Zoo is helping to protect animals in their wild habitats. 

Sessions with a Zoo Educator will last for approx. 45 minutes. Outside this time you are free to explore the Zoo. Most schools plan to arrive for 9:30am opening and leave by 2:00pm.

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Students will explore some habitats within the Zoo with a Zoo Educator.

Year 0 - 2

  1. Know what animals need to find in their habitat to thrive.
  2. Name a part of an animal and say how it helps them to thrive in a particular habitat.

Year 3 - 6

  1. Give examples of physical and behavioural animal adaptations.
  2. Make links between an animal’s adaptation and its ability to thrive in a particular habitat.
  3. Recognise how changes in a habitat can affect the animal’s ability to thrive.

Year 7 - 8

  1. Give examples of physical and behavioural animal adaptations.
  2. Make links between an animal’s adaptation and its ability to thrive in a particular habitat.
  3. Recognise and explain how changes in a habitat can affect the animal’s ability to thrive.

Students, with a Zoo Educator, will either explore some habitats within the Zoo or interact with artefacts in the classroom.

Year 9-10

  1. Give examples of structural, behavioural and physiological animal adaptations
  2. Make links between an animal’s adaptations and its ability to thrive in its ecological niche.
  3. Recognise and explain how changes in a habitat can affect the animal’s ability to thrive.

Year 11-12

  1. Identify the animal adaptations related to nutrition in mammalian herbivores and carnivores.
  2. Understand how animal adaptations provide advantages in relation to an animal’s ecological niche.
  3. Compliments Biology 90929 (1.5) – demonstrate biological ideas relating to a mammal(s) as a consumer(s)
  4. Compliments Biology 91155 (2.3) – demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants and animals to their way of life

Year 13

  1. Understand how animal adaptations provide advantages in relation to an animal’s ecological niche
  2. Understand the behavioural strategies of animals for survival and reproduction in their environment
  3. Compliments Biology 91603 (3.3) – demonstrate understanding of responses in plants and animals to their external environment

Science – Living World:

Evolution L1-2: Recognise that there are lots of different living things in the world and that they can be grouped in different ways. 
Evolution L3: Begin to group plants, animals and other living things into science based classifications.
Life Processes L1-2: Recognise that all living things have certain requirements so they can stay alive.
Life Processes L3: Recognise that there are life processes common to all living things and that these occur in different ways.

Science - Nature of Science:

Understanding about Science, Investigating in Science, Communicating in Science.

Year 9 & 10

Science – Living World:

Life Processes: identify the key structural features and functions involved in the life processes of plants and animals

Ecology: investigate the interdependence of living things (including humans) in an ecosystem

Nature of Science: understanding about science

Year 11

Science – Living World

Life Processes: relate key structural features and functions to the life processes of plants, animals and microorganisms and investigate environmental factors that affect these processes

Biology 90929 (1.5) – demonstrate biological ideas relating to a mammal(s) as a consumer(s)

Year 12

Life Processes: explore diverse ways in which animals and plants carry out life processes

Biology 91155 (2.3) – demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants and animals to their way of life

Year 13

Life processes: understand the relationship between organisms and their environment

Biology 91603 (3.3) – demonstrate understanding of responses in plants and animals to their external environment

Download our RAMS here.

We welcome teachers to pre-visit before their session.

Book a pre-visit here.

Email: discoveryandlearning@aucklandzoo.co.nz
(09) 360 3817
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