Available until 29 March 2018. Please see our current offer for schools.
At a glance
Cost: £3.50 per child 
Minimum cost: £50
Subject: Science
Duration: 90 minutes
Numbers: 32
Adults: minimum 4
Age: KS2
Session summary
Through contact with live animals, handling taxidermy specimens and exploring our Vivarium, this session provides children with the opportunity to develop and apply their scientific enquiry skills and knowledge of habitats and adaptations in the unique setting of Manchester Museum.
Focusing mostly on rainforest species, pupils will work in groups of up to 8 to:
- Assume the role of a ‘Vivarium scientist’ to investigate how organisms are adapted to the different layers of the rainforest.
- Come into contact with live amphibians and reptiles such as frogs, snakes and chameleons with experts from our Vivarium.
- Work collaboratively and use scientific enquiry skills to identify a mystery creature using their adaptations and features as evidence.
- Explore threats posed to animals in the rainforest habitat and understand how animals such as the lemur leaf frog and golden toad become endangered or extinct.
This workshop replaces our old session, ‘Habitats and You’.
Gallery time
Please note: this session incorporates an element of gallery time in the Vivarium.
In you need to see particular galleries during any self-led time, including the Vivarium, please let us know as sometimes our galleries are busy with other activities.
Downloads and links
- Support our environmental education work – follow up your visit by sponsoring a frog!
- Sample Risk Assessment
- Fun lemur leaf frog activities: Learning with Lucy
- Find out about amphibean conservation: Project Lemur Leaf Frog
- What’s the Vivarium team up to?: Frog Blog Manchester
- On-gallery resources: Living Worlds | Nature’s Library
Learning at Manchester Museum 