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Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Surrey will open a new Wild Learning Centre this year, where pupils can experience hands-on activities supporting the national curriculum.
As well as the opening of the centre, Chessington will run a number of new workshops and activities around the zoo, tying in with subjects such as Science, Maths and Design & Technology.
New Wild Learning Centre
Chessington’s Wild Learning Centre will boast five themed zones: The Jungle, Africa, SEA LIFE, Tigers and Rollercoasters, and represents the biggest investment in education in the resort’s recent history.
Pupils will be able to tap into their imagination as they learn about a range of topics, tailored for the curriculum and linking with animals they can see during a visit.
For example, a new Tigerrific Conservation workshop, for Key Stage 2 and up, launching to coincide with the arrival of four amur tigers, will take place in the Wild Learning Centre where students will study the tigers in more detail.
Through interactive activities, pupils will learn about predator and prey relationships, the adaptations of tigers and the importance of conservation.
Walking adventures around the zoo
Chessington is also launching three school sessions, including ‘walkshops’ designed to take classes on an adventure around the resort.
The Safari in Action ‘walkshop’ will take pupils on a guided tour, meeting meerkats, lemurs and zebras, whilst learning about the exotic animals.
Children will also use spotter guides and artefacts to learn about habitats, food chains and adaptations. Safari in Action can be tailored for all Key Stages.
Rides in Action is a guided ‘walkshop’ combining Science, Maths and Design & Technology as students learn about the rides around them. Pupils will use a ride guide as the tour, led by the Chessington education officer, answers questions such as ‘How do you calculate the speed of a rollercoaster?’, ‘What is a pulley?’ and ‘What type of motion do you experience on a ride?’
This session focuses on the forces in action, such as gravity, air resistance and friction, in addition to the mechanisms that make rides work, and can be tailored for Key Stages 2 to 4.
For more information, visit chessington.com
