Year 1 had a fantastic day exploring Hertfordshire Zoo, packed with exciting learning opportunities and unforgettable experiences!
Our day began with an engaging Fur, Feathers and Scales workshop. The children impressed the workshop leaders by recalling their knowledge of the five main animal groups: mammals, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles. They enjoyed discussing the characteristics of each group and thinking about where different animals belong.
One of the highlights of the workshop was getting up close to real animal artefacts. The children were fascinated to compare the feathers of a hornbill and an owl, noticing how different they felt. They were also amazed to see a real porcupine quill from one of the zoo’s porcupines and had the opportunity to see the shed skin of one of the zoo’s snakes. Everyone was surprised by how dry it was—it even rustled like paper!
Next, we explored the exciting dinosaur trail. The children loved discovering the different dinosaurs and were especially keen to learn just how much each one weighed! As they walked around, they recapped their understanding of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores, using their knowledge to work out what each dinosaur would have eaten.
After a busy morning, it was time to enjoy a well-earned lunch. Everyone tucked into their packed lunches before having a chance to relax and recharge for the afternoon.
Following lunch, we set off to visit the zoo animals. We were lucky enough to watch the tigers enjoying their lunch, which was a real highlight of the day. We also spotted some wonderful animals, including a red panda, wallabies, penguins, lions, jaguars and alpacas. The children were full of curiosity, asking thoughtful questions and making links to what they had learned during the workshop.
Before it was time to head back to school, the children enjoyed some well-deserved fun in the playground. There were lots of smiles, laughter and happy memories as everyone made the most of the final part of our visit.
It was a fantastic day filled with hands-on learning, exploration and excitement. The children represented the school brilliantly with their excellent behaviour, enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the trip. Well done, Year 1!
How to Help at Home
You can continue your child’s learning by:
- Talking about the different animal groups (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles) and asking your child to sort animals into the correct group.
- Visiting your local library to borrow books about animals or dinosaurs.
- Discussing whether different animals are herbivores, carnivores or omnivores and what they eat.
- Looking out for birds and other wildlife on family walks and talking about the features that help them survive.
- Encouraging your child to share their favourite part of the trip and explain something new they learned at the zoo.