Secondary education

A classroom based session, supporting a contextualised understanding of animal behaviour.

The session examines the primate evolution and social structures with the option of the pupils observing and recording data on our animals for their own behavioural study. The session also demonstrates how our charity's on-site research allows us to improve welfare of animals in our care.

Age suitability: S1 - S4

Availability: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 50 minutes

Maximum class size: 180 

Curriculum links:

BGE:  
SCN 4-01a 
SCN 4-12b 
SCN 4-14a 
LIT 4-04a 
SOC 3-08a

NAT 4/5 Biology: 
Nat 4: Unit 3, Area 5 
Nat 5: Unit 3, Area 2.e & Area 6.d; Unit 3, Area 3 a,b,d.

Higher/Advanced Higher Biology: 
Higher Unit 1, Area 7.b & c, Area 8b. 
Higher Unit 3, Area 4 and Area 6.b & d 
Adv. Higher Unit 2, Key area 1.e 

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
15. Life on land

A blended discussion and tour-based session. This session is an extended introduction to the behaviour of primates examining their diversity, evolution, social groupings, and unique behavioural adaptations. Following an indoor session, the group will head out into the zoo and discover how various behavioural adaptations are aiding species survival in a changing world.

Age suitability: S1 - S6

Availability: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 110 minutes

Maximum class size: 180 (Edinburgh Zoo), 33 (Highland Wildlife Park)

Curriculum links:
BGE:
SCN 4-01a
SCN 4-12b
SCN 4-14a
LIT 4-04a
SOC 3-08a

NAT 4/5 Biology:
Nat 4: Unit 3, Area 5
Nat 5: Unit 3, Area 2.e & Area 6.d; Unit 3, Area 3 a,b,d.

Higher/Advanced Higher Biology:
Higher Unit 1, Area 7.b & c, Area 8b.
Higher Unit 3, Area 4 and Area 6.b & d
Adv. Higher Unit 2, Key area 1.e

Tour Specific:
Nat 4 Biology: 2.1, 2.4 & 3.6
Higher Biology 3.6b
Adv. Higher Biology 2.2.c.ii

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
15. Life on land.

This session includes our extended introduction to the behaviour of primates examining their diversity, evolution, social groupings and unique behavioural adaptations. Following an indoor session, the group will head out into the zoo and discover how research helps us to maximize the welfare of animals in our care, before ending with the opportunity to complete pilot studies of their own observational behavioural research projects using ethograms and datasheets.

Age suitability: S4 - S6

Availability: Edinburgh Zoo, Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Maximum class size: 180

Curriculum links:
BGE:
SCN 4-01a
SCN 4-12b
SCN 4-14a
LIT 4-04a
SOC 3-08a

NAT 4/5 Biology:
Nat 4: Unit 3, Area 5
Nat 5: Unit 3, Area 2.e & Area 6.d; Unit 3, Area 3 a,b,d

Higher/Advanced Higher Biology:
Higher Unit 1, Area 7.b & c, Area 8b.
Higher Unit 3, Area 4 and Area 6.b & d
Adv. Higher Unit 2, Key area 1.e

Tour Specific:
Nat 4 Biology: 2.1, 2.4 & 3.6
Higher Biology 3.6b
Adv. Higher Biology 2.2.c.ii

*Pilot Study is for 16+ only and will cover:

Nat 5 Biology: 3.3a,b,d
Higher Biology 3.4b
Adv. Higher Biology 2.1.e; 3.1.a; 3.1.c; 3.2.a & 3.2.c "

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
15. Life on land​

A blended session consisting of a tour and workshop. This session covers the measurement of biodiversity from a species, genetic and ecosystem perspective before discussing how our charity implements these approaches when monitoring wild populations. Building on this, we introduce the challenges that global biodiversity faces and how our charity is supporting conservation efforts on a global scale. This is complimented through our interactive team based quiz to consolidate this new knowledge in context.

Age suitability: S1 - S4

Availability: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes

Maximum class size: 33

Curriculum links:
BGE:
SCN 2-01a
SCN 2-02a
SCN 3-01a
SCN 3-05b
SCN 4-01a

National 4/5 Biology:
Nat 4: Unit 3.1; 3.5
Nat 5: Unit 3.1; 3.2; 3.4 & 3.5

Higher/Advanced Higher Biology:
Higher Unit 1.7.c & d; 3.7 & 3.8
Adv. Higher Unit 2.1.b; 2.1.c & 2.1.d.

Learning for sustainability goals:
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
15. Life on land
17. Partnership for the Goals

A tour-based session, focusing on evolutionary processes such as biological fitness, speciation, survival of the fittest as well as introducing artificial selection. Taking these processes and relating them back to the animals in our care by examining physiological and behavioural characteristics.

Age suitability: S1 - S4

Availability: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 50 minutes

Curriculum links:
BGE:
SCN 3-05b
SCN 4-01a

National 4/5 Biology:
Nat 5: Unit 3.4.b; 3.4.c; 3.4d; 3.5

Higher/Advanced Higher Biology:
Higher Unit 1.7.a; 1.7.c; 1.7.d & 3.8.d
Adv. Higher Unit 2.2.c.ii

Learning for sustainability goals:
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
15. Life on land
17. Partnership for the Goals

Our introduction to zoos and conservation is best suited for larger groups. We'll introduce the role of a modern zoo through an interactive, gamified session. 

Age suitability: S1 - S6

Location: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 50 minutes

Maximum class size: 180

Curriculum links:
BGE:
SCN 4-13c
SCN 2-20b
SCN 3-20b
SCN 4-20b

National 4/ 5 Biology:
Biology: life on Earth
Unit 1 Ecosystems

Higher Biology:
Sustainability and interdependence

Learning for sustainability goals:
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life below Water
15. Life on land
17. Partnership for the Goals

We'll jump on your coach and introduce the role of a modern zoo through the stories of the species in our drive-through reserve.

Age Suitability: Secondary 1 - 6

Location: Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 50 minutes

Maximum class size: Bus capacity

Curriculum links:
BGE:
SCN 4-13c
SCN 2-20b
SCN 3-20b
SCN 4-20b

National 4/ 5 Biology:
Biology: life on Earth
Unit 1 Ecosystems

Higher Biology:
Sustainability and interdependence

Learning for sustainability goals:
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life below Water
15. Life on land

A blended introduction to the variety of reproductive strategies found across the animal kingdom. We start with exploring the influence of behaviour, anatomy, hormones, fertility treatments and zoo animal husbandry on successful reproduction in ex-situ breeding programmes. And taking this further through visits to some of our animal ambassadors, highlighting examples of reproductive adaptions and strategies in a real life context.

Age suitability: Secondary 1 - 6

Location: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Lesson duration: 110 minutes

Maximum class size: 180

Curriculum links:
BGE:
HWB 3-51a/ 4-51a
SCN 3-14a
SCN 4-14a
SCN 4-14b

National 3/4/5 Biology:
Nat 3: Unit 2.1
Nat 4:Unit 2.1 & 2.4
Nat 5: Unit 2.4

Higher/Advanced Higher Biology:
Higher Unit 2.1
Adv. Higher Unit 2.3 & 2.4

Higher Human Bio: Unit 2.1; 2.2; 2.3 & 2.4

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
15. Life on land

Explore the world of work with our virtual tour of the zoo, exploring our grounds and enclosures whilst considering the variety of amazing roles needed at to support our wildlife conservation charity.

Age suitability: S1 - 6

Availability: Virtual

Duration of lesson: 50 minutes

Curriculum links:
HWB 3-20a 
HWB 3-20a 
LT 3-02a 
LIT4-02a 
CfE Career Education Standards 3-18 

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequalities

Animal welfare is central to our role as a responsible zoo and vital to our mission. Join us as we define and share the importance of animal welfare, introduce our measures and discuss how we promote natural behaviours. This three-part session covers the theory, offers practical experience and concludes with a discussion based on the 5 Domains to introduce an emotional, technical subject in a constructive, memorable way.

Age suitability: S5 - 6

Availability: Highland Wildlife Park

Length of lesson: 100 minutes

Maximum class size: 33

Curriculum links:
Higher Bio: Unit 3.4

SVQ's level 4,5,6 - Animal Care

NPA Animal Welfare

NC, HNC, HND Animal Care and/or welfare

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
15. Life on Land

We can create custom tours that fit a wide range of learning contexts including learning for sustainability, numeracy, life on our planet, rainforests and other habitats. Please email education@rzss.org.uk to discuss how our expert team can meet the needs of your learners!

Availability: Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park

Duration of lesson: 50 minutes

Format: Onsite

Maximum class size: 33

Curriculum links:
Dependent on request

Learning for sustainability goals:
3. Good health and wellbeing
15. Life on land