Education Sessions
Bring your lessons to life with Drayton Manor Education Sessions, designed for schools and groups looking for an interactive, curriculum-linked learning experience.
Our workshops explore fascinating topics like animal adaptations, conservation, habitats, and wildlife care, helping students connect classroom learning to the natural world.
With over 500 animals from around the globe, Drayton Manor Zoo provides the perfect environment for hands-on discovery. While our core sessions focus on the wonders of the animal kingdom, we also offer bespoke workshops tailored to your specific learning objectives.
Plan an educational school trip to Drayton Manor Zoo today and give your students a unique, engaging day of wildlife exploration!
Animal Adventures (Habitats & Food Chains) – KS1
Students will distinguish between a variety of common animals, from fish to mammals, and learn about their diets. They will investigate how each is perfectly suited to its habitat and are all connected in simple food chains. Using a range of animal artefacts, you will learn about a range of animals and how some of these species survive!
The Wonders of Life at the Zoo (Life & Growth) – KS1
Students will explore what makes something alive, dead, or never alive. Through hands-on activities and close observations of artefacts, students will learn about the basic needs of animals and humans. Join us to examine the growth cycles of living things and classify a variety of animals. This will give students the ability to understand the fascinating differences between living organisms and the environments they thrive in.
Circle of Life (Classification & Food Chains) – KS2
Students will dive into the fascinating world of classification as they explore how living things can be grouped in many ways. Using classification keys, they'll identify and name a variety of plants and animals. They will also learn about food chains, understanding the roles of producers, predators, and prey, while recognising how changes in the environment can impact living things. This workshop helps students make connections between living organisms and their ecosystems.
Adapting for Survival (Evolution & Adaptations) – KS2
Students will explore the differences in life cycles of mammals, amphibians, insects, and birds. They'll also learn about plant and animal reproduction processes. Discussing how species evolve over time and adapt to their environments, and how fossils help us understand how life has changed over millions of years.
Biodiversity and the Fight Against Extinction (Heredity, Natural Selection & Conservation) – KS3
Students will explore how traits are passed down through generations, the importance of biodiversity in keeping ecosystems healthy, and how environmental changes can threaten species with extinction. Learn about the critical role of gene banks in preserving diversity and discover what we can do to protect our planet’s incredible living species.
Species in the Spotlight (Measuring, Monitoring & Protecting Ecosystems) – KS4
Students will learn about the vital role of both abiotic and biotic factors shaping communities and how organisms interact and depend on each other for survival. Topics covered will explore adaptation and the importance of biodiversity and methods to measure species distribution and their abundance within different habitats.