Zoo Learning Story - July 2015

Learner: Justin L, Henry, Willie, Rohullah and Nehaal                           Learning Coach: DWilkes                              Date: July 30, 2015

Learning Area: Science

Learning Observed

Our trip to the zoo was a learning adventure for Justin, Henry, Willie, Rohullah and Nehaal.  The boys were split into small groups while we toured the zoo visiting animals from around the world and observing their behaviour and habitats.  The boys loved seeing the red pandas, reptiles, primates and the African mammals.  While the observed the different enclosures they were prompted to ‘notice’ the animal habitats and discuss and describe the zoo habitat each animal lived in.  They all asked lots of questions and were eager to move from area to area.   Willie and Nehaal wanted to know why people poach animals? Justin and Henry were curious about the size, shape and colour of the elephant tooth and Rohullah and Peanut the Pukeko were fascinated by the colours of the flamingos.  They all thought is was very amusing that one of the elephants had the same name as their classmate “Anjli”.  The boys were attentive, collaborative and curious.and enjoyed the opportunity to talk about what they already knew about animals, their adaptations and what they need to survive.

Evidence of learning

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

During the animal encounters with the zoo keepers the boys demonstrated their curiosity when they got to touch the cheetah pelt and skull.  They wanted to know how the zoo keepers got them. All of the boys were managing self during the zoo visit by staying with their groups, buddies and listening to instructions.  They was collaborative and participated and contributed in all 3 animal encounters: flamingos, cheetahs and elephants.  Justin, Henry and Rohullah enjoyed watching Willie and Nehaal connect to their learning from school when they got to hold the elephant artefacts at the front of the encounter and because they could tell us which continent a lot of the animals came from.

Next Learning Steps

Visit the Auckland zoo website to learn more about the animals and their habitats. -share and contribute ideas and questions with the wider group -use zoo learning and wonderings in their Habitat Design learning adventure when we go back to school -make connections to their observations of the animals habitats at the zoo to their natural habitats