EYFS Workshops
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The early educational development of a child is a crucial phase where they discover the world through play and hands on learning.
ZooLab workshops provide children with a rich variety of play activities and learning experiences in a safe, secure, and stimulating environment under the supervision and guidance of our expert ZooLab presenter.
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Seasonal Workshops
Core Topics (2 - 5 years)
Rainforest Adventurer
EYFS, KS 1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Go on an action-packed adventure through the rainforest layers with ZooLab’s expert Ranger!
From stepping over snails on the forest floor to watching dancing stick insects in the understorey, seeing how snakes climb and tarantulas jump out of burrows - you may even get to meet a canopy-dwelling tree frog too.
Senses & Textures
EYFS, KS 1; Early Years, First Stage KS 1.
Ages 3 - 7.
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We’re going to use our senses to meet our animal friends and find out how they use their senses?
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Children make hands-on discoveries of textures and senses in an animal handling experience that is suitable for everyone from new intake to SEN classes.
We're Going On An Animal Hunt
EYFS, KS 1, Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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This story-based workshop based on a classic children’s book takes children on a fantastic animal hunt!
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Their ZooLab presenter will take them through grass, a river, mud, a forest and a snowstorm before coming face to face with an array of amazing ZooLab animals!​ Using animals, songs and rhymes helps promote language, physical, social and emotional development.
Caring For Living Things
EYFS, KS 1, Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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A very important rule for living things is that they need to stay alive (or else they wouldn’t be living things)!
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This workshop emphasises what we need to do to look after animals, plants and the planet. Exploring the diverse requirements of a range of ZooLab animals, we discover that often creatures need the same core things to survive; food, water, oxygen and protection/shelter.
African Explorer
KS 1, First Stage.
Ages 4 - 7.
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What better way to explore Africa than on a ZooLab safari! A ZooLab Ranger will take you on foot, jeep and kayak around Africa’s varied habitats.
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On our travels you will learn about the fantastic large creatures found in Africa and meet some smaller creatures that call this continent home.
Minibeasts
EYFS, KS 1, 2; Early Years, First, Second Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Minibeasts have existed for around 550 million years and make up approximately 97% of creatures on Earth! In fact, the UK alone is home to 25,000 different species - these little creatures are quite a big deal. Let’s look at Minibeasts together!
During ZooLab’s workshop, children get a fun introduction to invertebrates and classification. They get to question, investigate and learn about scientific discovery.
EYFS Animal Explorer
All Ages.
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How slimy is a snail? Are tarantulas terrifying? Do cockroaches give you the creeps? Get up-close and hands-on with our unique Animal Explorer workshop.
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Guided by your expert ZooLab Ranger, you'll meet a menagerie of mammals, insects, amphibians and arachnids. Will you be brave enough to meet them all?
Wriggle & Crawl
EYFS, KS 1; Early Years, First Stage KS 1.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Wriggle and Crawl is a fun, exercise based workshop designed to get young children up and active! Your children will find themselves hopping like a frog and even taking part in the Millipede Conga!
Children are encouraged to act out being specific animals while at the same time gaining knowledge of basic scientific principles - all while having fun!
Show & Tell
Ages 0 - 2.
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ZooLab’s Baby Show and Tell experience is an additional 20-30 minute workshop designed to stimulate the senses and help your 0-2s develop. We use ZooLab animals, actions, songs/rhymes and puppetry as a powerful and unique bonding activity between parents, carers and children. This aids learning and helps language, physical, social and emotional development.
Storybook Workshops (2 - 5 years)
Using storytelling as a mechanism in teaching helps children make sense of issues and topics by engaging them in a story. It makes facts easier to remember and participants more open to learning.
The benefits of ZooLab's storybook workshops do not stop at increasing knowledge of the subject area - storytelling encourages creativity, expands vocabulary, increases attention span and helps to reinforce morals.
The Zagaro
EYFS, KS 1; Early Years, First Stage KS 1.
Ages 3 - 7.
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The Zagaro - based on a famous children’s story - takes us on a trip through the deep, dark woods. Our rat protagonist meets a host of ZooLab’s weird and wonderful animals along the way and uses their characteristics to create an imaginary monster to scare away other creatures. Spoiler ahead - at the end of the story we find out the Zagaro is real, much to rats surprise!
Morpho The Munching Millipede
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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This active-learning workshop based on a classic and much loved children’s picture book follows ‘Morpho the Munching Millipede’ as he travels through a week-long adventure, meeting a variety of exciting and awe-inspiring ZooLab animals.
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Through repetition, actions and participation, this workshop introduces concepts of literacy, numeracy and sharing as well as reinforcing healthy eating.
Ben In The Glen
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Follow Ben through his home in the glen as he explores the changes of the seasons and the variety of wildlife we see at different times of year.
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As Ben learns about the world around him, he records his findings in his nature book. You even get to be up-close and hands-on with some ZooLab animals!
Jane's Egg Hunt
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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This egg-citing Easter storybook egg-stravaganza follows our lead character, Jane, on a chocolate egg hunt.
Along the way, she asks the farm animals have they seen her chocolate egg? She spies a series of eggs - could they be her chocolate prize? Perhaps they belong to some of ZooLab’s
amazing animal team? If they do, we learn to leave them alone and let them hatch out.
Henry's Senses
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Our story is about Henry (and his rat called beans) whose hobby is to learn about all the animals that he meets! Exploring habitats, big and small, Henry learns about senses and how animals use them with their surroundings. Children will be able to relate them to their own and have an opportunity to explore senses (but not taste, yuck) with some members of ZooLab’s animal team.
Naturetown
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Naturetown’ is a rhyming adventure, following eco-warriors in a crusade to help their local wildlife - investigating issues of pollution, deforestation and litter.
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Never before has environmental learning been so important and the time to act is now. Learn how we can protect and care for our animal friends.
The Zoo On The Broom
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Join ZooLab on a rhyming story adventure based on a well known children’s classic! Follow our friendly witch Zog on her broomstick ride through towns, forests and bog. Along the way, her broom starts to resemble a zoo!
Our helpful and kind witch offers a ride to a selection of amazing animal hitchhikers, who the children will get to meet! However - it’s not all plain sailing. Will Zog’s journey end with a bump?!
Zola The Kind-hearted Elf.
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Join Zola the Elf on a wonderful Christmas adventure as we help her deliver presents to children all over the world.
From Africa, to India and through America via Australia, we encounter a variety of fascinating creatures along the way! This is a special, festive workshop that focuses on the themes of selflessness, kindness, friendship and fun.
The Last Present
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Join ZooLab on a festive adventure told through storytelling, rhyme, and animal encounters!
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In this yuletide story, we join Father Christmas as he searches for the recipient of undelivered presents at the bottom of his sack. As he retraces his route to check everyone has a gift, we visit the homes of our animal friends to see their habitats and how they spend Christmas.
Seasonal Topics (3 - 7 years)
Springtime
EYFS, KS1; Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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A special look at life cycles for younger children! We demonstrate how our special ZooLab animals deal with the changing of the seasons and what happens in springtime.
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In turn, we look at how each animal reproduces and prepares for the season ahead. Where possible, our presenters will try and bring you examples of eggs and baby animals.
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The Zoo On The Broom
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Join ZooLab on a rhyming story adventure based on a well known children’s classic! Follow our friendly witch Zog on her broomstick ride through towns, forests and bog. Along the way, her broom starts to resemble a zoo!
Our helpful and kind witch offers a ride to a selection of amazing animal hitchhikers, who the children will get to meet! However - it’s not all plain sailing. Will Zog’s journey end with a bump?!
Zola The Kind-hearted Elf.
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Join Zola the Elf on a wonderful Christmas adventure as we help her deliver presents to children all over the world.
From Africa, to India and through America via Australia, we encounter a variety of fascinating creatures along the way! This is a special, festive workshop that focuses on the themes of selflessness, kindness, friendship and fun.
The Last Present
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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Join ZooLab on a festive adventure told through storytelling, rhyme, and animal encounters!
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In this yuletide story, we join Father Christmas as he searches for the recipient of undelivered presents at the bottom of his sack. As he retraces his route to check everyone has a gift, we visit the homes of our animal friends to see their habitats and how they spend Christmas.
The Great ZooLab Bug Hunt
EYFS, KS1. Early Years, First Stage.
Ages 3 - 7.
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We’re going on a bug hunt! This session takes children outdoors and gets their hands dirty. It’s all about the thrill of turning over a log or stone to find an exotic looking centipede, a family of woodlice or even a frog!
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The session also includes an indoor section where children get to up-close and hands-on with some of ZooLab’s unusual minibeasts.
