“Only healthy and functional ecosystems will help us maintain a balanced world.” This has been emphatically stated by scientists as they try to explain that all living things are interconnected and that all species play a vital role. How can we grasp these relationships? Using play, in this workshop we learn about the main players in these relationships. We assume the role of different organisations to get a sense of their needs, and come to understand, experientially, the exchanges and affinities that exist between the different players. We will also address the unavoidable issue of the principal threats that upset the equilibrium and our options for minimising our ecological footprint and living more sustainably.
Duration: 2 hours
Start times: 10am, 12pm
This activity is aimed at upper-primary pupils.
Let's go to the Zoo
The group/class is accompanied by a member of the Zoo’s education team throughout the workshop.
The Ecosystems Workshop explains, in a participatory and age-appropriate way, the main features of the constituent parts of ecosystems and their relationships.
This workshop takes place in a specially equipped classroom, where a member of the education team (a biologist) explains the purpose of the activity and oversees its implementation. After this first part, the group are given a tour of the Zoo by the member of the education team so that they can finish working on the topics covered in the classroom.
The group can stay in the Zoo until closing time.
- Competency in knowledge and interaction with the physical world.
- Competency in learning to learn.
- Explain the concept of ecosystem from the biological perspective.
- Explore the relationships between the constituent parts of the ecosystem.
- Work on the different types of biotic relationship found in an ecosystem.
- Introduce the types of ecosystem and animals that inhabit them.
- Explore basic aspects related to threats to ecosystems.
- Contribute to raising awareness about the importance of conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Promote respect for animals through better understanding.
The group/class is divided into subgroups, each of which works on an aspect of ecosystems, using various materials and a study guide. All pupils work on the different exercises.
- What is an ecosystem?
- Food chains and networks
- Biotic relationships
- Types of ecosystem
- Conservation (to be done in the classroom)
Materials: (Please bring writing materials)
Workbook for working with at the Zoo and at school, video, laptops, biological material, photographs.
Small groups: €234 (up to 21 pupils). For each additional pupil up to a group size of 25, the price is €8.15/pupil. The workshop is free for teachers.
Large groups: €267 (up to 29 pupils). For each additional pupil up to a group size of 30, the price is €8.15/pupil. The workshop is free for teachers.
SPECIAL DISCOUNT DURING LOW PERIODS
If your school activity with the Education Department takes place during September, December, January or February, you’ll benefit from a 20% discount off the price. In addition, if during these months the activity takes place on a Monday or a Tuesday, the discount will rise to 30%. (*)
(*) If you book an activity with the Education Department and this promotional offer is applicable but the activity has to be cancelled due to a situation of force majeure, we will endeavour to reschedule it for another time under the same terms and conditions.